In article<V8OXKiAP87l+EwZw@xemu.demon.co.uk>, Dave Bird <dave@xemu.demon.co.uk> writes:
> Picket Report 2003/apr/12 Saturday, Manchester (UK)
> ===================================================
>
> There will be a picket of Scientology's grimy storefront temple
> on DeansGate in Manchester at 1pm today, location see....
> http://www.xemu.demon.co.uk/clam/manorgmap
>
> The clams apparently know we are coming, and are doing their
> own "anti-drug" event. More follows soon.
Manchester is about 100 miles (90 minutes) further north than my own location. I was in a hurry to catch the train, but no need: it was in late. And ran later, thanks to a lorry driver who did not understand that his trailer was higher than our low bridge and got stuck underneath. Grr! It is a long way along the moving walkway to the far end of the main Manchester station -- which has now been redone rather smartly like one of the London terminals -- to the railway bar where I found Damian, John, Neil, and Steve CT. Jens and Andy joined us later at the demo, and a veteran of the old Manchester demos passed by who will probably join us next time in Manchester.
The clams had found out we were coming, presumably through the city council, and sent police a notice of their own "say no to drugs" event on the same day. Again because of city council hassles, we didn't bring the sound system; but John and I were in good voice, alternating and occasionally overlapping on various slogans. John had also prepared a quick "Nar-CON-on, bogus drug rehab" leaflet based on http://www.narconon-exposed.org
The type and width of road is similar to Tottenham Court Road in London, but further from any corner or crossing and with markedly fewer passers-by. Since the clams were outside the Org and also outside the cafe opposite, we formed up outside the building next door to leave plenty of room.
No placards because Hartley was off ill, and one of the group somehow translated "get some of our Xemu balloons gassed up" as "fetch a blue mylar dolphin and a yellow mylar star balloon." Never mind.
The clams were out in large numbers, and very snappy.
One chap, the brightest wit OSA could produce, stood opposite John saying "you can only destroy" over and over.
He asked me what I could create; well, usually I can create better than Hubbard's outpourings, but alas no baked beans for breakfast so my ass wasn't up to it this time. I told him to go away and shout orders at ashtrays until he could make one stand up. He wasn't the brightest lamp on the tree:
I reckon the ashtrays give him orders. Sorta tone 4 1/4.
By this time it was coming up to three p.m., but the clams seemed to be well stirred up so I reckoned we should do the fill mileage until just about 15:30. It was definitely worth the extra effort of going to Manchester. We had them in a right tizzy, which makes me think it is well worth a return visit in the fall. All in all, we had a grand day out.
> __
> .' '. "OUR GRAND DAY OUT"
> : :
> | _ _ | cracking clams, grommit!
> .-.|(o)(o)|.-. _._ _._
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