LA Picket Report, March 23, 2002

We met today at the Sizzler and there was a good group of us to picket. Jeff Jackobson had come in, with a friend. Barbz had arrived from SD, and Richard, there were some people who didn't want to be named who were new to picketing, and a few older picketers who I'm not sure if I'm supposed to name.

Graham of course was there with his all amazing "Spy Camera" equipment on,,,looking hilarious! All in all there were around 10 of us.

One lady had joined us who was doing a documentary. She stayed with us for about two hours, filming.

After eating we all agreed to meet at the HGB (Hollywood Guarantee Building) on Ivar and Hollywood, which is the "Int" Building where all the International Executives for the various Scientology Groups, Churches etc are located. Not ALL of them, but many. As we arrived there, the staff were planning to get on the buses. Now in most "churches"...no matter what picketers might be outside, if the group needed to go somewhere, they'd pop on the bus, and go.

However, since Scientology is SOO into trying to shelter it's people from reading ANYTHING having to do with the other side, they did their typical shuffle of people once we'd get down the block.

Graham did his PT Barnum imitation barking out various things which he can post himself, but they'd quickly close the door each time so obviously they didn't want anyone to hear his facts.

We were in front and at the side ....while people continuously came up and told us "We KNOW how bad they are". As always, that's a shock still for me how many people have their own horror stories of Scientology, or just general dislike. But it's STRONG> Especially compared to S's hype when you are "in".

A few more people doing a Different documentary arrived...so more filming and interviewing went on, as we picketed. One of Scientology's Attornies, Elliot Ableson soon arrived and stayed all the while we were there, after calling the cops to report God knows what. The policewoman looked as irritated (at them) as they usually do. Such a bogus waste of time.

Ableson came up to me and said some snide remark (having never even met me) and I said, "Well, that's not a very nice thing to say, especially for someone representing a group who SAYS they are a religion". I pointed out to him that the don't tell the truth,,,,he said, "So?". I pointed out that they don't even believe in God.

He said, "They never said they do". This is their attorney, ladies and gentlemen. Oh well....he and most staff had on their typical phony smiles as they darted to the buses.

As they looked so miffed I remembered what a "flap" picketers were. I would always get a call, "Tory, we have word (who knows from where,,,they'd never say) that some picketers are arriving at ....we need you to go handle them, distract them, see if you can get them to leave". Now here I am...one of the same group they hate so much. But you know what....it is my own choice, as it is theirs to stay. I know it isn't FULLY their own choice, as they are not allowed to SEE all of the real facts.

We were there for about 2 hours, and then moved on down to the Testing Center, about a mile away. There I ran into an old friend of mine, someone I have known and liked for years. I walked up and said, "Hi"...and she said, "I'd rather not talk to you". Sad, but true.

I know she is on OT 7...so I pointed out how DM and gang have cut LRH"s 12 page HCOB on Solo Auditing to 5 pages...etc. I wonder if she'll check that out.....you never know.

We picketed there for some time,,,but right down the street was all the mass motion of getting ready for the Academy Awards tomorrow night (Sunday). So we headed down that way, just to check things out. People all along the way came up to talk, give us high 5's, tell us ~their tales of woe re Scientology. The documentary guys followed, filming and got some footage of me and my "Scientology: Stop hurting Families" Sign...with a 30 foot tall Oscar (not sure on the exact height, but they are TALL!!) in the background :)

Near sundown we decided to head on down to the Shrine, where the LRH Birthday event was. They had the entire front TIGHTLY blocked off so no one at all could see us, or so they thought. We had originally just strolled over, to check things out. We had quite a long conversation with a man from Canada who is now here in the US, and says he's in Qual as the C/S for OSA>

So if true, he plans out what the OSA people get in auditing. My friend used to be in the Guardian's office ...same area...and told me they never really knew the ins and outs of what was REALLY going on. This was true for this man, too. All he could say was, he was "happy".... even if the tech doesn't work, there IS abuse, etc. Ohhh well. I used to say how "happy" I was, too, so I remembered the state very well. Key thing, he didn't look or sound very happy. He certainly was not sure of what he was saying. We'll see if he has any thoughts later while all by himself.

We called Jeff, to find he was on the other side of the Shrine.

Over we went.

There OSA was out in full.... including the people trying to block the signs. I spent a long time talking to an OSA guy that I used to work with as a volunteer. I have to say, I was impressed to see they are starting to talk again, and I told him so. That hiding stuff is just so childlike. He and I had some pretty good talks, all in all. Considering NO ONE would talk to me ever since I have left, (with the one exception of Bill, sent by OSA to "Handle" me when I first left)....

It has been a pretty bad example of what they ~say~ they believe in, as I have posted over and over. So finally a few people are talking. He agreed to check into something for me, that Scientology has done that is just one more example of they creating their own enemies. We'll see if he really does, and get's back to me. My guess is he will not, or those on the other end will create some lie, promise it is true, and he'll then decide end of story. But I await a response, and I know he reads ARS>>>>>So go for it, dude!

We picketed and decided right before 8 to call it a day.

My friend and I took off, driving towards the beach.

As we stopped to get some snacks, he mentioned, "I wonder if we were followed". I said, "Well, watch for lights as we pull out".

Sure enough.... right after we pulled out, so did another car. Could be nothing, let's pull over and see. We pulled over, then so did he.

So we drove up, and he followed. We pulled over, then do did he.

This happened 4 times. Finally I blasted up right behind him to most assuredly get his license.....and we did. Suddenly he zoomed off...never to be seen again. OSA>>>>>come on! Why waste people's time?

On the bright side, watching these new picketers begin almost like mice...and as they day progressed their confidence came up, they both said they realized they DID have a right to speak, they DID have LOTS to say, and by the end, they were talking to lots of people, most effectively! It was cool to watch.

Hearing what others had to say was totally interesting, and as always, completely surprising.

This was a very good picket!

We celebrated, as we wanted to:

Communicating, educating, having fun.

Too bad they are so busy trying to "follow Policy" that they missed The party.

Happy Birthday, To all :)

Tory/Magoo~dancing in the light~ In for 30 years Out for One year, 7 months SP 6 ^ with Cumulative Cluster Free at last!!

For more info, please read http://www.xenu.net http://www.lisatrust.net http://www.lermanet.com/cos/toryonosa.htm http://www.torymagoo.org :)

Message-ID: <3C9E3B30.EF01A8A4@cox.net>
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 12:46:40 -0800
From: barb <bwarr1@cox.net>
Subject: Picket Knowlege Report Los Angeles 3-23-02

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Deville!"

Adventures in Hollywood

The entheta commenced before I even set foot in Los Angeles. A couple on the train asked me about my sign, which said, "L. Ron Hubbard: Phony War Hero Exposed!"

"L. Ron Hubbard," the gent said. "I haven't heard that name in years!"

I gave them a brief rundown as to what the old fart's been up to lately, (nothing, still dead!) and a War Zero flier just as we rolled into Union Station.

I had no sooner emerged from the station, blinking in the sunlight, when my ride appeared. Classy ride, too; a towncar that once belonged to actress Ruth Norman, now owned by an SP.

We had some time to kill before gathering sinisterly at a Sizzler steakhouse, so decided to scope out the terrain. Good thing too, Hollywood Boulevard was closed off around Graumann's Chinese theater for the Oscars event Sunday night. Red carpet and equipment everywhere, giant gold effigies of the Oscar, news crews, gawkers, hawkers, punks, drunks, tourists, weirdos and street people jammed the sidewalks.

The Scientologists were busy leafletting the crowd at the Testing Center. Most people declined their fliers offering Free Personality Tests. What a scene!

Then we drove by Big Blue. Their lighted billboard was flogging the VM crap, invites to services (all welcome!) and, I think, Dianetics. We drove that big boat down LRH Way. I wanted to get a picture of the big sign on top of Big Blue, but it was covered up. They're doing some renovation on the center section.

We arrived at the Sizzler a bit early, but everyone else showed up on time. Jeff Jacobson was there, Bruce Pettycrew and Graham Berry, Magoo, her friend who is an ex-member after 20 years in the cult, Snefru, Tanya, and some videographers who were working on seperate projects made a pretty large group for the restaurant to handle, but we managed by stealing chairs.

Picketing commenced at the Hubbard Life Museum. Everybody had different fliers, mine were tailored to Hubbard's birthday and the picket location. I handed out Ron the War Zero. The monster XENU.NET banner was unfurled. Magoo had her red stopsign to match her devil horns.

The Scientologists seemed rather anxious, clumping together like confused body thetans and peering out through the glass doors. Their security weenie stalked around importantly and impotently, while one woman kept scuttling from the front entrance to the building next door and back. Strained Scienos who had to walk past us on their errands had this air of constipation about them as they strove to ignore us.

Graham was wearing this Borglike headset with a camera on it to keep his hands free, very futuristic. There was quite a bit of traffic on the sidewalk, but nothing compared to the traffic further west around the Oscars site. We were thanked by many people, blessed by a few, cussed out by none. A tiny elder woman waiting for a bus refused my flier. "L.

Ron Hubbard!" she spat. "I hate that man! I wouldn't spit on him!" An older gentleman told me that he'd taped a bunch of shows featuring Scientology and offered to send me some. I'd say LA has got their number.

The Scienos were In Hiding. One fellow was videotaping the picket from a hallway inside the building next to the main entrance. When I raised my camera in his direction, he scuttled off down the hall. And who else was lurking in there? None other than Gambino champion and high-priced Scientology shyster Elliot Abelson! He eventually came out to say some nasty things to Graham and Magoo. Abelson seemed furious. He stood on the corner glaring at us. Then he stood elsewhere glaring at us and watching us give interviews. He hung around out on the street for the greater part of our picket, a peculiar thing for a guy who's billable hours are exorbitant. Has he joined the cult? It seemed he was trying out TR-0 on us. He locked glares with me and was the one to look away first. It's the second time I've tried to melt his head with my powerzz!

If looks could maim, we'd all be in baskets. No OTs there!

It was amusing to approach those leaving the Hubbard Museum, dazed tourists clutching reams of cult propaganda readily took our fliers as well, to balance out the information provided by Scientology. They seem to have accidentally omitted a lot about Hubbard's life, such as the truth.

Of course, no picket would be complete without a visit from the LAPD.

Two cars arrived, and a female officer came over to listen to clam whining, but there was nothing she could do as we were obeying the law.

She refused a cop info pack, stating that her job was to be "impartial."

Impartial to criminality? The police all left after watching us for a few minutes.

After a couple of hours there, we decided to head on down to the Testing Center. Jeff and Tory's friend stayed behind to continue enturbulation.

More foot traffic, more fliering opportunities. Outside were two strangely weathered-looking women handing out cult material. The Xenu banner was swapped out for more traditional signs. Another cult security weenie hovered around. I got to talk to several passersby, and induced a couple of punk rockers to take a flier by informing them that "Scientology Sucks! Hubbard was a lyin' ass bitch!" They enthusiastically agreed.

Another older fellow knew a lot about Hubbard, Parsons, Crowley, and the OTO. He was a mysterious-looking man with wooley eyebrows who asserted that Parsons was blown up when he turned the key in his ignition.

A slight, Asian man joined us for a while, happily haranguing the street in broken English with his assertions that Scientology is anti-Jesus, a cult, and evil. Then he seemed to get confused and started in on the Hare Krishnas. We had no trouble giving fliers to the people who accepted a cult flier. One would agree that looking at both sides just makes good sense in the wog world.

We picketed there for another couple of hours, then decided to do a pass through the Oscars milieu. Our cunning plan to get our signs filmed worked quite nicely, several network cameras turned our way. There was something really amusing about winding through the press of people;

behind me I could hear murmuring as people began to discuss Hubbard and Scientology in our wake.

Walking back to the Testing Center, I was waiting on a corner for the light to change when I noticed a couple of guys toting clear bags full of crap from the Hubbard Life museum. I made sure they got War Zero fliers to fill in the gaps.

We made one more pass at the museum before parting for the Shrine Auditorium. Busses were being loaded. The Scientologists came out of the side door at a brisk pace, studiously ignoring our signs. One woman was wearing a white jacket with gold letters on the back, FREEWINDS.

For some reason, she poked a bus tire and got smutch on her finger. She seemed confused as how to deal with it; she tried wiping it on the sidewalk, and when that didn't work, stared at it for a while.

Strange people, those Scientologists...

When we broke up to go to the Shrine (and me for the train station) our job wasn't quite finished. Bruce kindly gave me a ride, and as we were loading our signs into his car, we were approached by a man who spotted our signs. He's concerned about his sister, who has been in the cult for 35 years and is quite high up in the heirarchy. Her husband used to write for them. This man's concern was over an impending inheritance, which he made sound quite substantial. He wants his mother to put the sister's share in a trust fund, as he knows if there are no conditions, it will all go to the cult. He'd rather it benefit his nephew.

Our timing was perfect, I got to Union Station at 6, and the train left at 6:35. My sign attracted the attention of the conductor, (who had L.

Ron confused with Ron Howard) a mathematician (3=cheese, lol, he loved that story!) and a guy who'd just done three years in prison who was going to visit his mom.

The ride south was uneventful. The train didn't run out of fuel or run over any bums on the rails, and I was home by 9.

This is true,

-- Barb Chaplain, ARSCC http://members.cox.net/bwarr1/index.htm SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATE $CIENTOLOGY? Sign the petition at http://www4.PetitionOnline.com/cofs1/

"Every week, every month, every year, every decade and now every century, Scientology does weird and stupid things to damage its own reputation."

-Steve Zadarnowski

"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as Scientology."

-ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

"$cientology sees the world this way: One man with a picket sign:

terrorism. Five thousand people dead in a deliberate inferno: business opportunity.

$cientology oozes _under_ terrorists to hide."

-Chris Leithiser

Subject: Picket Report: Hollywood Mirthday Celebration
From: bk-pettycrew@home.com (Bruce Pettycrew)
Organization: Al Cat, Inc.
Message-ID: <Xdrn8.35531$J54.2230618@news1.west.cox.net>
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 21:07:03 GMT

For some reason the LRH Birthday Celebration was held a week later this year but, party animal that I am, I couldn't miss it.

I flew into Burbank on Saturday morning, rented a car and drove into Hollywood to meet with other picketers over lunch.

Our group consisted of about 10 participants and two reporters/documentors.

Present were Jeff Jacobsen, Tory/Magoo, Barb, Snefru, Graham and other SP's whose names I cannot recall or who are not public critics known to the OSA.

We picketed the LRH Life Exhibit and the "Test Center" (both are on Hollywood Blvd.) Saturday afternoon. When we arrived at the LRH Life site, they pulled their people into the building. A short while later Eliot Abelson showed up to stand around and watch. I gave out almost 50 flyers that Jeff had run off, detailing the lies about Hubbard's academics, military experience, etc.

We also picketed the building across from the Museum, which sports a Sea Org insignia.

There was a lot of traffic there and late in the afternoon busses began loading to take the members to the birthday event at the Shrine Auditorium.

After an hour or so at the LRH Exhibit, most of us moved about a half mile up Hollywood Blvd to picket the "Test Center".

As usual, we picketers received lots of support from the public- and it was very crowded near the Test Center, which is only a block from where the Academy Awards will be presented tonight.

After a short break, we re-grouped at the Shrine Auditorium, where we took up posts near the main parking entrances so that the attendees would have to see our signs.

Jeff and I unfurled the "WWW.XENU.NET" banner, which is about 8 feet by 4 feet.

Given the Google foot-bullet, this banner was extremely appropriate. In fact, several people I talked to at the Test Center picket brought up the subject. Truly, the Internet IS the Vietnam of the CoS.

It was then that the CoS made it's only attempt to obstruct the pickets- they brought out about 5 people with signs on sticks that read "Welcome to the Event" or "Event Here"

and tried to block our signs/banners. However, Graham was able to position himself between a lightpost and the curb, so that most arriving guests must have seen the sign "LRH Died on Psych Drugs" as they entered the lot. Jeff and I took the large banner across the street, where it was just as visible to arrivals and the public.

The event was supposed to start at 7:00, but people were still arriving until almost eight o'clock, when we finally furled our banner and departed for the night.

I took a number of pictures, which I will post to ABS later this week.

Bruce Pettycrew

From: Jeff Jacobsen <cultxpt@primenet.com>
Subject: Picket report, 3/23/02, Los Angeles
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 23:53:55 -0700
Message-ID: <j3it9uk9ihfeq27pde664pv2b8csi3tkf0@4ax.com>

Picket report 3/24/02

On the way to LA I was followed by a white and silver van on the interstate. I have no clue when they started following me or how they found me. I got off the interstate and got the plate number of the white van and videotaped the back of the head of my stalker (he seemed shy of the camera as he drove off).

Had a nice party at Tory's Friday night. Thanks for the Magoo award!

Saturday we met for lunch, then went to the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibit to picket. Snefru and I held up the www.xenu.net banner most of the time, even though it was kind of windy. The number of people downtown there seemed less to me than last time I picketed, but there was still plenty of evidence from the passersby who spoke to us that Scientology has a bad reputation in that town.

Elliott Abelson was there and spoke to the obligatory cop who came at Co$' call. It was nice to see that the US Consitution is stronger than even an expensive attorney, so the cop just told us (as they do each time) to abide by the rules and have a nice day.

After a few hours we got the idea to go down Hollywood Blvd to the testing center. I drove Barb and Graham nearby and dropped them off, then went looking for a parking spot. Since the Kodak Center is so close there and many nearby streets were blocked off for the awards ceremony, I couldn't find a parking spot, so I just went back and picketed at the Life Exhibit some more until the gang were done and came back. We then headed to the Shrine Auditorium, dropping Barb off to go home first.

At the Shrine they had blocked off the street that goes in front of the building with 7 foot high lattice work covered with black cloth so no one could see in, and no one inside could see picketers without.

Bruce and I unwrapped the www.xenu.net banner (seen on www.primenet.com/~cultxpt/demo.htm) where we had been the previous time, right next to the parking lot entrance. Graham was there with his picket sign as well. About 6 to 8 Scientologists came out with huge picket signs and stood in front of us, thus hiding our banner.

We moved to the east across the closed street, and so did the Scientologists, again standing in front of our banner. I told them "hey, I'm at cause over Ots! I can make you go where ever I want to!

Watch this!" and Bruce and I crossed the street to the USC side. I was fully expecting the Scientologists to follow us across, but alas, my powers were not as strong as I thought, and we parked ourselves in a very visible spot for most of the night while the Scientologists were happy to go back and stand near Graham's sign that said something like "L. Ron Hubbard died with psych drugs in his veins." I hadn't noticed what the Scienos signs had said because we were behind them, but they said "welcome to the event" and "this way to the event" which seemed sort of like last-minute choices for slogans to me. But then, maybe Scientologists get lost easily? Maybe they were afraid some Scientologists wouldn't feel welcome? I don't know.

Some other picketers came about a half hour later, so I think there were about 10 of us all together. One new picketer had been standing by Bruce and I but went back to the Shrine side with her sign. Sure enough, as soon as she got over there two Scientologists came over and stood in front of her sign, hiding it with theirs. Now I'd like to ask you all, has anyone ever heard of an organization being picketed sending out their members to hide the signs of the protesters? Is this a first in history? It certainly shows what Scientologists think of free speech.

After a while Bruce and I decided to see what would happen if we went back to the Shrine side. As soon as we crossed the street, 3 Scientologists came and stood in front of us with their signs. One guy started arguing with Bruce, who was happy to argue back. He tried to argue with me too but I told him that so long as he was blocking my free speech I didn't want to have a conversation with him. We eventually crossed the street again and stayed there until 8pm, when we all left our separate ways.

I think the parking lot was mostly full when we left. Just a guess, but I think, though, that there seemed to be fewer people at this event than the last time we picketed there, about 3 years ago.

After I left the Shrine, I stopped at a nearby Denney's to eat.

But I noticed a white van like the one that had followed me coming into the lot. There was another giveaway that this guy was a PI following me, so I videotaped him and the van's plate #, and he just did a loop and drove out of the lot. I decided to leave, so I went around the block and saw this guy driving around the neighborhood slowly. I then left and don't think I was followed after that, but I'm not sure.

It was a good, worthwhile picket. We had lots of good conversations, handed out flyers, and allowed Scientology to once again show their true colors.

Gandhi Tech Works

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