It was time for another picket so Gregg and I showed up at the Toronto org about noon. Due to some people on the picket list being off the net we were the only ones.

The org was flat out deserted, no "bodies in the shop" not even the oldtime members. This was a bit strange but a passer by told Gregg they had all moved about ten blocks away to 49 Front street where they were holding a scientology "revival meeting" complete with a bunch of white and blue balloons.

So about half an hour into the picket, we shut off the camera and moved. Sure enough, just like our informant had said they were out trying to body route. It was an area with about the same pedestrian traffic as Yonge St., but unlike the main location not as many people are clued in.

I took up a station about 120 feet down the street. I was splitting my time handing out flyers and talking to a religious studies guy "Anthony from Carlton University" when Brian McPherson came up and started needling me about about Dandar and Minton. ("Hi Keith. Arn't you worried about Minton?") I mentioned that I had quoted Brian a number of places on the net and he disputed the accuracy of my quotes.

I told I had his words on tape, for example that he could think of a bunch of times scientologists had been scammed because as a group they are gulliable people. He disputed they are highly gullible. Brian came back "No it is not because we are highly gullible, it is because like any organization people take advantage of the situation just like Slatkin did, eh?

Brian was talking to Anthony when another guy walked up and commented on my sign (about scientology making me a political refugee in Canada).

AntiUS: "I honestly sympathize with you because I hate America"

Keith: "Well it has its problems, scientology being one of the bigest.

They go to huge effort and have corrupted the courts beyond belief in a number of places."

AntiUS: "How?"

Keith: "There is a long essay by Jesse Prince on the topic, they spend more than a million dollars per judge going after people close to the judge."

AntiUS: "Like Microsoft and the tobacco industry." "Yeah, right, scientology, Microsoft and the Tobacco industry that's a great [lost in noise].

Brian then chimed in with:

"Why don't you tell them about your lawyer, Dandar."

Keith: "Dandar's not my lawyer, never has been."

Brian: "He was working with you and Minton."

Keith: "Actually, that's not true, Dandar did represent me one time."

[The year I didn't go to Clearwater and they got an injunction against me anyway. Dandar did it pro bono.]

[Brian's muttering, can only catch words illegal and finantial.]

Keith: It doesn't help a bit, scientology is still an awful scam.

(Brian or the AntiUS guy, not sure): So is Christanity.

KeithL: That's both true and not true, religions actually serve a purpose.

[Conversation wondered off into memetics, Shakers, the OTO contrabutions to scientology and the postive function of religions toward human society--all the time with me asking people if they want a flyer about John Travolta's UFO cult. At some point Brian having gotten in his two licks, wonder off in a daze. It was a good day, between the two places I gave out at least 150 flyers and Gregg did as well.]

Gregg gave out 75 flyers right in front of the doorway of the rented art gallery where scientology was running a "What is scientology exhibit." Virtually every one of the poeple who were not scientologists coming out took a flyer.

They had the 10 remaining scientologists between 15 and 22 out on the sidewalk singing, dancing, and loudly playing the "think for yourself"

tape, but (according to a local store owner) only after we showed up.

Gregg was just grossed out by one of the teenagers, a blond girl, who would smile showing her rotting teeth, in dire need of dental care.

When Gregg would launch into a rendition of OT3, the kids out front would sing really loud and the people inside would turn up another music source so loud nobody could talk.

One of the store employees in front of my location came out and thanked me, took a flyer and said he would check out scientology on the web. I advised him a little picketing would likely get rid of the infestation if it was not well established. Gregg said the woman running the store next door (or maybe just close) to the scientologists came out and talked to him. She was not very happy with them, said it has really hurt business the entire week. "You know how people put their shoulders up and don't want to be touched?

After going by them they don't want to come in."

Buttnor, Felsky, and McPherson called the cops. They had quite a conversation with the cops, but while the cops did ask for our names, they blew off the org.

In some ways it was really rather sad. They were using shills to make it seem like there was a crowd. Gregg says it was the same crew of tired regulars in their 40s and 50s wondering in and out and trying to make it look like there was a crowd of interested people.

Toronto is just not a friendly place for scientology.

Keith Henson

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