Picket Report. Adelaide Org, Australia. July 1, 2000

Lynton, Tue 04 Jul 2000

From: "ACT" <noclams@canberra.au>
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Picket Report. Adelaide Org, Australia. July 1, 2000
Message-ID: <g1j85.5869$c5.15216@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 20:38:45 +1000

Adelaide Org, South Australia, 1 July 2000.

Picketers: my friend Darren and myself
Banner: "$cientology Despises Free Speech"
Handler: some bald guy
Clams: 2 sea org ladies, bald guy

The Scientologists were very on-edge at the Adelaide Org. Darren and I could
barely approach the Org without some Sea Org member emerging, patrolling
around the street and going back inside the Org. Darren walked past the Org,
by himself, without the video camera or sign. I did the same. The
Scientologists must have clocked us from my SP photos taken outside the
Canberra Org. Soon enough a handler snuck up behind us, remarked "that's not
a very professional sign. You're breaking the law. I'm going to call the
Council." We crossed the street and began filming the Church. The Adelaide
Org is pretty good, in that you can film most of the activity on the ground
floor.

Scientology indeed despised free speech. They made good on their promise to
contact the Adelaide City Council. A council officer soon appeared to move
me and my friend on, even though we had police permission to be there, and
we weren't blocking the pavement or behaving offensively. Needless to say, I
'm exchanging words with the Council over the legality of the Council's
by-law requiring people to pay for a permit in order to hold protests or
gatherings. It turns out today that the Council acted excessively, because
we weren't blocking traffic.

I'm back in Canberra now. See you soon, Lara.


Love,
ACT