Ah yes, this indeed is the summer of the picket...

RIPODB, machwon, Messenger, and I headed out to the Kansas City org at about one o'clockish. RIPODB had a FIERCE four by four sign that was professionally made. It was very nice, not to mention visible as all hell!

We had good responses from the community. A police officer thanked us for what we were doing! Several people yelled, "F@#$ Scientology!" out of their car windows. One guy was virtually halfway out of the passenger side of a car screaming, "Scientology sucks!" An ambulance even blared their siren for a second in a display of support!

We did not have ANY handlers, save for Maggie, who came out to get a flier (she collects them; I wish she would actually read one!). And she didn't really handle at all. Just got a flier and went back into the org.

The org itself was not very busy-I didn't see any non-Scientologists going in. Oh, something funny-after a few hours into the picket, they put up a sign in their door that read, "Please use the back door".

machwon and RIPODB will add anything I forgot about...Oh, and there are pictures. I'll get them up on the 'net ASAP for your viewing pleasure.

Someone needs to pick up the torch and do week five...

-L

Way to go!

Way to go!

Way to go you guys!!!

Here's some more details in no particular order:

1) The KC org is located at a a very busy intersection in a pretty rough part of town. People were driving by in all types of cars from Porsches to the classic Cutlass Supreme with gold rims. The neighborhood that surrounds the org reminds me of other big city hoods where the poor, college students, twenty somethings, bohemians, hippies, etc... all co-exist together. Consequently, we were able to get the message out to a wide variety of people and they were all very supportive.

2) The $cios: There was one kid who looked like he was 19 going on 16 with sunken eyes and and he looked like a stiff wind could blow him over. Seeing him validated my reasons for picketing. This kid should have been enjoying his summer break instead of spending his time in the org being bossed around by his superiors. I sure hope the evil chick that is always at the KC org isn't his course sup! My heart goes out to this kid and I hope our picket helps him leave the cult.

3) People of KC: Let's just say the KC org's stats have to be awful!!! We felt like rock stars out there with the constant support we were receiving. My favorite car that drove by was full of enthusiastic girls who said something like "We don't have a horn to honk, but it's true. They're crazy!". We even happened to meet a critic who is friends with Wollersheim.

4) "Use Back Door" Sign: Midway through the picket we noticed that the org put that sign up on their front door. Having had a little time to reflect, I think I know why they did that. At least two guys "from the corner" went into the org shortly after reading our flyers and god only knows what happened inside. They didn't have any money for books and/or courses and I'm sure they went in to voice their opposition to the cult being in their neighborhood. I think the org actually locked up the front doors because our entheta was bringing them unwelcome visitors!

5) Team Dynamics: Marlysfan was the designated flyer person and she did a great job. If she ever becomes disillusioned with journalism, she could always have a career in sales or PR! There was a bus stop on the corner and many people waiting on a bus accepted flyers from Marlysfan. It was so satisfying to actually watch people reading our flyers and discussing $cientology with their friends while waiting on the bus!

6) $cientology and the Ghetto: My experience yesterday dispelled any validity in the claim that "these people" don't know anything about $cientology. They might not have known all the details, but they knew enough to state that they didn't want any part of it. As long as we critics let people know that all the front groups are also part of $cientology, the cult will NEVER gain a foothold in this demographic.

Excellent done, all...EXCELLENT!!

Very well done! Keep the momentum going. I can't wait to see pictures. They must be fearful if they only trust one person to handle you. Perhaps I should make the sign "Yell 'Hell Yeah' If You Think Scientology is a cult." Giving them an auditory reminder, as well as a visual one, has to double the impact. Keep up the good work.

Great job!

Thanks for doing the picket and writing the reports.

What did your picket signs say?

Patty

We were fuckin' rockstars! Every one was honkin' and screaming, it was fly and we was yellin'! hehe. Before we even walked 20 feet from the car people were hanging out the window of an apartment complex (?) praising us.

The area was awful, i couldn't see why anyone would wanna put a cos church in this part of town, crack deals going on right behind us!

"It's five. You got five? iight, six fifty!"

A guy walking around with a big ass bag and chowing on a burrito asked me if i wanted to buy a burrito

Supposedly there was a robbery, perhaps a bank robbery. (note: the bank was directly across the street )

Also some heavey set guy came over and was eager to talk to us, he had been a strong critic of Scientology too and used to picket FLAG and the LA Celeb Centre. He we talked for a bit then he thanked us for fighting 'Chef's Fruity Little Club.'

When Marly wanted to take a break from passin out flyers, there was a guy whom i thought was a cop from his belt buckle, but now that i think about it he just may of just been an average Joe. I gave him a flyer and we talked for a bit, After he read the flyer he came up to me and and asked if we are affiliated with any kind of group. I told him we are all out here independently, we just organized over the internet. He shook my and and thanked me.

I think one of the funniest moments is when some drunken crack head started yelling at messenger about the flyer being erroneous and making a huge scene walked across the street and kept screaming. After he walked across the other street he started screaming at us. And i (thinking at the time he was a $cino) yelled "YOUR NOT VERY HIGH ON THAT TONE SCALE BUDDY! " Someone who knew him filled us in that he's just a drunk crack headed asshole.

Great day... a little sunburned, but still WAY worth the trip! I wanna go back =(

Well done, you guys!

I hope you enjoyed a frosty, malted beverage afterwards and celebrated!

Good on 'ya!

Regards to you picketers, ONE AND ALL!

Suck it, $cientology,

Natty

Rock on Rock Stars! Thanks for taking the time and courage to picket. Raising awareness of the cult is so important. You surely saved a few souls today from this dastardly trap!!!

Ohh we did! But I had to limit my frosty barley pops, i had to drive later.

I love this!

Great job, guys!

Rips BIG ASS sign said:
Scientology: It's far worse than you think. lermanet.com
I forgot what the otherside said

Messenger's said:
Honk if you think $cientology is a cult

Mine said:


The wind was gettin to me a bit. i had to trade from holding the sitck to holding the posterboard. Messsengers sign's sick broke compleatly off from the wind and rip almost had his sign blow away from him a few times.

Perhaps they were postulating the wind

Sorry, I have to do this:


Ewwwah! There's more people picketing my church again, ewwwah!