From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.))
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 04:56:10 GMT
Message-ID: <38a99599.11766692@news.primenet.com>
Channel 28, Tampa Bay, 2/09/2000 Description of video is in [brackets] ==================== [Tampa Bay 28 News logo] INTRODUCTION: And now, 28 Tampa Bay News. [outside Scn building; picketers] VOICEOVER: This afternoon a Pinellas County judge had to make a decision about a battle that has put Clearwater in the headlines. It's about a millionaire and his fight against the Church of Scientology. [Martie Tucker and Brendan McLaughlin in studio] MARTIE TUCKER: Hi, I'm Martie Tucker. BRENDAN McLAUGHLIN: And I'm Brendan McLaughlin. [screen in background shows Scn crossed-out cross and caption "Scientology ("Scientology" looks like church version of logo) 10 Feet Away"] MARTIE TUCKER: A Pinellas County judge calls it the world's largest chess game and if you spend any time in Clearwater you probably know what he's talking about. This afternoon he put restrictions on protestors outside the Scientology headquarters, ruling they have to stand 10 feet away from church members. [split screen shot of Martie Tucker and Laura McElroy, top of screen says "28 Tampa Bay News"] MARTIE TUCKER: 28 Tampa Bay's Laura McElroy is in Clearwater right now. So Laura, will this decision deter the protestors? [Laura McElroy outside Scn building; shot of three LMT protestors (with dog on a leash) and a cop; close-up of white line; Mark Bunker joining the protestors with his video camera] LAURA McELROY: It doesn't look that way. They say they will still be out here every week, and in fact there's a small group of them on the sidewalk beside me right now, holding their signs. This is the spot where 1200 Scientology workers show up every day by bus. They unload right here behind me for lunch and for dinner, and these protestors are trying to reach them with their anti-church message. Now the city, to try and control the situation, has painted this white line right here along the road, and today the judge ruled that the protestors do have to stand behind the white line. But that has not always been the case. [footage of picketers--among sign slogans are "It's safe to look" and "Need help escaping, call (phone #)"; more picketers walking around bus; another shot of a Scn bus with Scienos getting off bus] LAURA McELROY--VOICE OF: You can see in this court tape that the protestors have a very aggressive in-your-face approach. The picketers would sometimes block the roadway and swarm around the buses. They say they are trying to reach people who may want to leave the church but who are afraid. The judge is now holding them 10 feet back. But protesters say that will not dilute their message. MARK BUNKER (caption--"Mark Bunker, protestor"): Even from 10 feet away I can still see the, the criminal, immoral and unethical things that the Church of Scientology does. BOB MINTON (caption--"Robert Minton, lead protestor"): We're here basically for one simple reason and that's to, uh, expose the abusive and deceptive practices of Scientology. WALLACE POPE (caption--"Wallace Pope, Scientologists' attorney"): So they're being right in our faces, you know, they just don't have a right to come right up and jam a camera at somebody or a picket right in front of somebody. Keep your distance--that's what this is all about. [another shot of the LMT protestors, camera turning back to Laura McElroy] LAURA McELROY: Another load of Scientologists just pulled away. This heavy protesting started last month when New England millionaire Robert Minton bought the building down the street and started organizing all these protestors. He says his mission is to try and stop the church from controlling and manipulating its members. But now, because of this white line and because of the judge's ruling, he will just have to carry on his mission a little further back. Martie? [split screen shot again of Martie Tucker and Laura McElroy] MARTIE TUCKER: All right, thanks a lot, Laura. The judge first placed a 10 foot ban on the lead protestor, Robert Minton, last October when he was arrested and accused of hitting a Scientologist. Minton has spent more than $3 million trying to help people defect from the church. ==================== Sue, SP4(:), listed on the Scieno Sitter list 5 times! -- http://www.primenet.com/~xenubat "It will take a *long* time to find another enemy with the combination of evil and incompetence you see in Scientology."--Keith Henson