Riverside County ordinance curtailing Scientology protests suspended

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors today temporarily suspended an ordinance it passed last week to limit protests outside a large Church of Scientology compound near Hemet.

Protesters show up about once a month outside Golden Era Productions, home to 500 Scientologists, on Gilman Springs Road. In an incident last week, protesters were swarmed by sheriff's deputies trying to enforce the ordinance. After a vigorous debate among supervisors, the ordinance was suspended today.

The measure, which was requested by the church to keep demonstrators away from private homes and was rushed through last week as "urgent," is supposed to keep protesters 50 feet from the property line of any residence. Supervisors believed it still would allow protests outside the compound's front gate.

But a group protesting at the front gate last week was met by carloads of deputies demanding identification. Officers also asked two of the men whether they were HIV-positive, protesters said.

In today's debate, Supervisor Bob Buster questioned whether the ordinance was needed.

"This seems to be much more complicated than it need be," Buster said. "Why is it even needed?"

Sam Alhadeff, a lawyer representing the church, said the measure was needed to "protect people who move around the campus from having people scream at them."

Supervisor Roy Wilson moved to have the ordinance suspended for a month while county counsel and the Sheriff's Department determined exactly where protesters could assemble and what form their protests could take.

"The county counsel and the sheriff can get together and make it crystal clear what we are doing," he said. "This has gotten broader than we had anticipated."

The board voted unanimously to approve the temporary suspension.

-- David Kelly

Photo: Donald Myers of West Hollywood protests outside the Scientology complex near Hemet last week. “Even the smallest protest freaks [church officials] out. ... This is the Xanadu of xenophobia,” he said. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Nick]

A victory for free speech! Also they shot down a new proposed ordinance, which would prohibit protestors who are HIV+ because of "health risks to the staff." Which is wrong on every level.

If you can protest next to the White House lawn, you can protest at a Scientology compound.

[David]

I wonder if the end of the story will be that Scientology ends up starting an ordinance that protects critics from having their own homes picketed by Scientologists? It's not so long ago that a guy called "AnonOrange" had his own private home in Riverside County picketed by Scientologists, and this seems to have taken place inside a gated community.

It would be rather ironic.

[martin luther]

Sweet! Maybe the council will also start questioning why there is RAZOR wire on the INSIDE of the fences.

[Lesley]

Wow, by their own account, all protesters were gay and two of them HIV+. Obviously they themselves are the source of this information. But that's beside the point. These people try to claim a "right" to harass members of Scientology at their home, with yelling, shouting, blowing horns and covered by masks. This ordinance procedure has been made a farce by the likes of "Angry Gay Pope" (the screaming one on the photo), "Happy Smurf" and a wannabe lawyer called Berry.

[Scientology.org]

"Sam Alhadeff, a lawyer representing the church, said the measure was needed to "protect people who move around the campus from having people scream at them.""

Period. Believe it or not, Scientologists have rights too.

[Xenubarb]

"Sam Alhadeff, a lawyer representing the church, said the measure was needed to "protect people who move around the campus from having people scream at them.""

That's real funny, considering every time we're present, the cult blares a minor chord, right out of a horror movie, from giant speakers placed along the road at a 110 decibel volume.

This whole situation stinks. Scientology is trying to avoid being criticized for the alleged abuses comimtted on that property. Many people have related sadly similar tales of being beaten, restrained, overworked, underfed and controlled, some kept from leaving.

Scientology claims it's in favor of freedom of speech. Their lies just never stop spewing. I am happy that, for once, Scientology is not being allowed to run roughshod over our right to speak out. Marc Headley, Jeff Hawkins, and the ex-members over at exscientologykids.org are also speaking out. John Duignan's book, 'The Complex,' has also been released, despite Scientology's best effort to suppress its sales on Amazon. At last, there are cracks in Scientology's secret wall of silence and their ability to control information about their destructive and abusive practices. The Riverside Supervisors who questioned the necessity of Ordinance 884 are to be commended. Scientology will almost certainly try to intimidate them into silence.

[StopAnonymousBigotry]

I am happy that also Scientology critics work up to the scandal that is building here. Says a critic:

"I have been blogging last January 6, about what appeared to be a ridiculous ordinance preventing critics from picketing Gold base.

However, what the article did NOT say, and what apparently was also concealed by critics, is the following information to be found in that article:

"However, the revision preserved Anonymous' right to protest in its usual position across from the main gate"

So, during all this time, critics were protesting about a supposedly anti free speech ordinance when in fact it preserved their right to protest in the position where they protested before?

Furthermore, we also learn of new developments as well:

"At one point, the Sheriff's Deputies emerged and their Sergeant informed us that Scientology and the Riverside County's Legal Counsel had worked out an interpretation of Ordinances 884 and 888. Provided we did not use the name of any living Scientologist specifically, and only protested Scientology generally, we could protest up and down both sides of Highway 79."

For the rest, I am highly skeptical of the article, considering the source. IndyBay has indeed been so biased against Scientology in the past it could virtually be considered as a critic mouthpiece, with all the cultic thinking that goes with it. I would need to wait for more reliable source before considering what they claim as a worthy news item."

(http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/)

[Terry]

Incomplete story.
Why would the officers ask the protesters if they are HIV+? Are they even allowed to ask that?
Why would an ordinance about protesting ever be considered "urgent?" If they get protested every month, why the sudden urgency? Were they afraid they would get protested for their connection to the passing of Jett or something?

"This has gotten broader than we had anticipated." Yeah well, the idiots should have never passed such a stupid ordinance considering the cult's history of abusing such systems for their own insidious goals.
The county counsel has allowed itself to be made a fool of by a foolish cult.

[Thomas Jefferson]

Glad to see that protests against this criminal enterprise can continue.

[James Brown]

It's a great day for freedom of speech. I saw the live feed today and Scientology is clearly trying to muddy up the issue. The Scientologist PR spokeswoman Frasier is trying to claim that a dining hall is a residence. You gotta be kidding me.

Freedom of Speech means that you have to hear what you don't like as well. To the scientologists saying that they need to be protected, you have fences, razor wire, and guards... Isnt that enough for protection. This ordinance is about residential picketing, not campuswide picketing.. Sorry Lesley and Scientology.org, you failed. The president of the United States is not protected from pickets outside of the White House.

Frasier is also stating that they don't want to hear the protesters, sorry the US Constitution protects stuff that you don't want to hear. You don't see Liberals trying to pass ordinances on conservative radio talk show hosts because they dont want to hear what they have to say. So dont pass laws that infringe on rights of others that you dont like because thats is a negative spiral that can cause chaos.

[David]

Re: Terry: "Why would the officers ask the protesters if they are HIV+? Are they even allowed to ask that?"

The Scientology lawyer had gotten hold of some medical information and told it to the sheriff deputies.

[MaxChampion]

The world needs to know what goes on at Gold Base. The best telling of a Scientology escape story I have read is that of Catherine Frasier's ex-husband, Jeff Hawkins, who writes of his dramatic escape at http://counterfeitdreams.blogspot.com/

[the lord]

"Posted by: martin luther | January 13, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Wow, by their own account, all protesters were gay and two of them HIV+. Obviously they themselves are the source of this information. But that's beside the point. These people try to claim a "right" to harass members of Scientology at their home, with yelling, shouting, blowing horns and covered by masks. This ordinance procedure has been made a farce by the likes of "Angry Gay Pope" (the screaming one on the photo), "Happy Smurf" and a wannabe lawyer called Berry. "

hate gays much? good luck with that in cali ha ha ha!

[BigBeard]

Lesley commented: "Wow, by their own account, all protesters were gay and two of them HIV+. Obviously they themselves are the source of this information."

This is not correct, the information regarding the protesters sexual preferences and HIV+ status were provided to the Sheriff's Deputies by Scientologist Muriel Dufresne (OSA & Public Relations) using personal medical information obtained by means that were NOT authorized by the individuals concerned.

Lesley also commented: "But that's beside the point."

Acutally, it's exactly the point. And begs the questions, how did Scientologist Muriel Dufresne obtain this medical information without the consent of the individuals concerned? And why is she providing it to third parties (the deputies) in direct violation of the California Health and Safety Code 121025?

From the California Health and Safety Code:
Pay special attention to 121025 (3) H&S:

This law pertains not just to government health agencies, but also to individuals, organizations, etc....

Quote:

Any person who willfully, maliciously, or negligently
discloses the content of any confidential public health record, as
defined in subdivision (c) of Section 121035, to any third party,
except pursuant to a written authorization, or as otherwise
authorized by law, that results in economic, bodily, or psychological
harm to the person whose confidential public health record was
disclosed, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in
the county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or a fine of not
to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or both, plus
court costs, as determined by the court, which penalty and costs
shall be paid to the person whose confidential public health record
was disclosed.

Unquote

[sparky]

"Wow, by their own account, all protesters were gay and two of them HIV+. Obviously they themselves are the source of this information. But that's beside the point. These people try to claim a "right" to harass members of Scientology at their home, with yelling, shouting, blowing horns and covered by masks. This ordinance procedure has been made a farce by the likes of "Angry Gay Pope" (the screaming one on the photo), "Happy Smurf" and a wannabe lawyer called Berry.

Posted by: Lesley | January 13, 2009 at 04:36 PM"

What makes it "obvious" that they were the source of the information? As usual a scientologist throws something out there that is bull and hope it sticks. We may find out EXACTLY where you scilons got your information in court. Could it be one of your low-life PI's got their hands on someone's medical or financial records? More then likely.

And if Graham Berry is a wannabe why does scientology always haul out their "big lawyer", Moxon when Graham's involved. Scared much, scientology? Oh, I think so. I think you're scared quite a bit. Shoe's on the other foot now...the one with the big bullet holes.

[sparky]

"Re: Terry: "Why would the officers ask the protesters if they are HIV+? Are they even allowed to ask that?"

The Scientology lawyer had gotten hold of some medical information and told it to the sheriff deputies.

Posted by: David | January 13, 2009 at 05:46 PM "

Where did you get this information? Can you provide any proof?

[Marc Abian]

>"Sam Alhadeff, a lawyer representing the church, said the measure was needed to "protect people who move around the campus from having people scream at them."<

If you're quoting this, you've apparently never been to Gold. There's no way anyone inside those gates will hear ANYBODY who's outside the front gates, and certainly not from across the street.

It's funny that they will complain about noise from the protesters when the Church itself has set up mammoth speaker cabinets around the compound blaring tones at 110 DB (a typical rock concert is 120 DB).

Guess they don't want the people inside to find out about Xenu before they've paid for that info.

[Miriam Stubblefield]

I have hope for our future because those Anonymous Protesters are so young, most under the age of 30. These people are the freedom fighters and they know laws and rules, and they have a network of people all over the world. I hope Anonymous people become the politicians so they can protect the rights of everybody freely. Scientology is screwed royally by some 20 year olds and that means their future financial base is wiped out, any future potential to get young people now to join the cult later is stifled because of these impressive protesters.

I think Scientology cannot rebound if they even tried because one year of protests can have the affect of 40 years with ramifications. These kids will be still living past 60-70. Scientology will end before any of the Anonymous protesters reach 50. Scientology is not viable anymore. Thank You Anonymous for your courageousness in a mountain of fear and lies by Scientology. I graciously thank you Anonymous

[Gumby]

There is a cancer growing in Riverside county California. That cancer is scientology. This so-called religions crimes have been well documented both on the internet and the halls of justice. The question for the citizens of California is this. Does scientology add to the quality of life in my state? What benefit does scientology add to society? In this posters opinion the answer to both afore mentioned questions is NONE!

[AndreasFusse]

Considering that there was an incident, when a protestor has biten a security guard into its hand, it is highly relevant that 2 of them are HIV positive and that the security guards know that, so that they are extra cautious, when dealing with those protestors.

[Eddie Vroom]

Funny that Scientology complains about protests at a campus which is primarily a business site (despite the presence of berthing bays), while representatives of Scientology and it's anti-Psychiatry pitbull CCHR has absolutely NO compunctions about picketing residences and funerals. Yes -- FUNERALS. And another thing -- how, exactly, does this "church" manage to dominate the Riverside County government's agenda at will when they apparently contribute no tax revenue to the community whatsoever? I mean, come on -- they got five cruisers on site practically at a moment's notice over three peaceful protesters while the state and county governments are going into bankruptcy? How's the Sherrif's response time and prioritization looking in your neighborhood?

[Janey Z]

Big Beard, you just made my day. So the unauthorized disclosure prosecution is not only limited to "covered entities" in the federal HIPAA rules. The Scilons CAN be individually prosecuted by the state of California for disclosing this confidential medical information.

Also, to the Scilons BAAAWWWing: Snap out of it. Pretty soon you're going to HAVE to snap out of it. It won't be long until you're taking some of the great new SSRIs we've recently developed. You're going to love 'em.

re:
This law pertains not just to government health agencies, but also to individuals, organizations, etc....

Quote:

Any person who willfully, maliciously, or negligently
discloses the content of any confidential public health record, as
defined in subdivision (c) of Section 121035, to any third party,
except pursuant to a written authorization, or as otherwise
authorized by law, that results in economic, bodily, or psychological
harm to the person whose confidential public health record was
disclosed, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in
the county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or a fine of not
to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or both, plus
court costs, as determined by the court, which penalty and costs
shall be paid to the person whose confidential public health record
was disclosed.

[Mary DeMoss]

Scientology has really opened a can of worms this time.

I'm just totally blown away that they'd dig into protester's personal, confidential medical records -- and then go blabbing about this to the Sheriff's department?!

Holy crap.

I can hardly begin to list the number of California and Federal statutes that were violated. First, whatever organization released the info to the Scientology people is going to reamed for violating HIPAA regulations.

Next, the Scientology lady who gave the information to the Sheriff's deputies is going to get reamed, thoroughly, for violating CA's Health & Safety Code.

Third, the Church of Scientology is going to get reamed in Civil court -- if not criminal court as well.

Last, but certainly not least, Scientology and the Riverside Sheriffs Department are going to get reamed by a really, really pissed off LGBT community.

I hope the protesters that had their medical privacy violated sue these bastards into oblivion.

[Chris]

It needs to be looked into how the Church of Scientology received medical information on the two protesters.

[Mark A. Bian]

[[[ So, during all this time, critics were protesting about a supposedly anti free speech ordinance when in fact it preserved their right to protest in the position where they protested before? ]]]

No see, actually the constitution of the united states of america is what preserves their right to protest, and what is being protested in this specific instance relating to the article posted above is how scientology is attempting to circumvent these basic rights and freedoms afforded to every citizen of the country.

The anticipated reply to my comment will be regarding freedom of religion and I will pre-emptively respond to THAT comment with the following quote complete with cited source:

U.S. v Kuch 288 F Sup. 439 (1968):

"Those who seek constitutional protections for their participation in an establishment of religion and freedom to practice its beliefs must not be permitted the special freedoms this special sanctuary may provide merely by adopting religious nomenclature and cynically using it as a shield to protect them when participating in anti social conduct that otherwise stands condemned."

[William Buddusky]

This meeting of the supervisors raises more questions than it answers. I am glad to see they have continued the issue for furthur deliberations. My misgivings are related to questions about the conduct of Supervisor Jeff Stone.
What is the reason for attempting to ram this ordninance through on an urgent basis?
Why is he proposing an ordinance that seems to benefit only the management of the scientology compound but abridges the rights of every citizen in Riverside County?
Jeff Stone produced a packet of information that appeared to be damning to the protesters but provided no citations or verifications as to the veracity of the documents provided.
Where is the verification?
Where did he obtain this information?
What tie, if any, does it have to the protests at the scientology compound?

Why is our elected county supervisor Jeff Stone trying to fast track a new law that only benefits the management of the scientology compound where they allegedly COERCE ABORTION?
No less than the neice of the current leader of scientology states that pregnant workers in this compound are routinely coerced to have abortions so that they can continue to work instead of raise children. Her name is Jenna Miscavige-Hill. Her claims are very convincing. http://www.exscientologykids.com/
Does Jeff Stone support coerced abortions?

What is the true nature and depth of the connection between the management of the scientology compound and Supervisor Jeff Stone?
Did Jeff Stone attempt this because the scientology compound is a polling place?
Is there a connection between Supervisor Jeff Stone and his pharmaceutical compound company, Innovative Compounding Pharmacy?
Regardless of the decision ultimately made by the Supervisors, these questions need answers.

[Bitch Slap]

The Scientologists are worried about protests outside their "residence"? That would be like prison guards who (after observing protests just outside the prison walls about prisoner abuse and slave labor conditions) complain to the police that the protesters were "disturbing the poor residents in their home." I worked in that base and it is not "a residence." It's a nightmare on the other side of those barbed wire fences.

[Thomas Paine]

And with that, we'll never see "Lesley" again.

[P. Nuttz]

Three of the protesters were gay, not all of them; however, the fact that scientology even brought it up shows their ignorance-what are they going to do, throw HIV over a razor wired fence designed to keep people IN?)..
Gold base IS NOT a residence and the people that are locked in there working can`t hear any protesters for the horrid loud organ note blaring! A scientology attorney tried to get this passed so the inhabitants of this slave labor camp (a suit was just filed in LA) would not wake up if they saw or heard these freedom fighters who are picketing against the well-known abuses of this dangerous criminal cult!
What about scientologists who picket outside critics homes? There`s a few instances of them doing this on youtube! Hypocrites!

[Know Well North]

Scientologists' rights are being violated in no way whatsoever. Also, many of the claims supporting the ordinance are hypocritical.

How can residents be annoyed by the yelling of the picketers, if a wall of noise is being emitted from the compound's own speakers?

How can they be "protected from the picketers" if not only were the picketers NOT being violent, but the people within the compound are behind a fence with inward-facing barbed wire?

What's the point of an anti-picketing ordinance that only applies to an area that has not been picketed?

The entire idea of stopping the pickets is to make sure that the people inside don't see the signs. That's basically it. A glance at the signs while taking a prison camp course may give them the crazy idea of critical thought. Something that Scientology leaders are against.

[TheDude]

Keeping in mind that Scientology falsly promote their elustrious Commodore L. Ron Hubbard as some kind of super-man/scientist/explorer/war hero, it's not that strange that they act all kinds of wierd. The man was a fraud, his cult is a fraud.

As a previous comment stated: Scientologists have rights too.

That is correct, but protesting Scientology is also a right. If you want to be protected by the law, you must also follow the law. The organisation behind the cult must be held accountable for all the crap it's been up to. Paying illegal wages to its employees, unethical demands on their staff, unethical behaviour towards critics and former members...long list is looooooong.

[David Freehug]

Considering a large part of this argument is whether Golden Era Productions is considered residential property; perhaps the best thing to do would be for Riverside County to make sure that the "residential" areas are as they are claimed to be.

In other words, perhaps there should be some investigation as to whether the Sea Org members - including those in SP hall (a prison for those who know too much about the Scientology enterprise), the RPF (a re-indoctrination and hard labour punishment program) and the RPF's RPF (an even more severe re-indoctrination and hard labour punishment program) - are actually being given quarters which meet legal requirements for a residential facility.

Considering the RPF are expected to live in basements, garages and other areas - often packed in to punitive capacity; perhaps those on "Gold Base" may not wish such exposure as to the true nature of this facility.

Anonymous fully supports a full investigation of the conditions for "residents" at the Hemet compound...

[Terryeo]

Fact: Protests have been no where near the residence halls ever.
Fact: The grounds are protected by guards, cameras, and razor wire fences.
Fact: No protester has EVER gone over the wall.
Fact: Scientology got medical records of protesters to use them against them. This is in violation of a state code as mentioned above.
Opinion: Protesters should sue Scientology for full damages due to this violation.
Fact: Scientology DOES blare a loud, annoying, ear hurting note during protests to drown out the sound of protesters.

Question: So why does CoS complain? Those speakers are louder than any handful of people so the yelling is out of the question. The razor wire and guards do a great job keeping them in and critics out.

Opinion: They just don't like being protested, and are trying to shut people up.

Its my opinion, as Anonymous, that for no other reason than this, we will protest there and continue to fight the cult in front of the council: It amuses us greatly and we take great enjoyment out of beating the cult any way we can. This is one way. And we are amused.

[southoc]

Wasn't Elron Hubbard a science FICTION writer?

[Lesley]

Fact: Those "protesters" are waving their HIV+ infection around in the media. If they think that they need to do that to gain sympathy they have no cause worth mentioning.

Fact: There is no other reason for those "protesters" than to intimidate the people living on the campus.

[$cientologiesAjoke]

Give me a break... I am certain that people can pick out the RANDOMLY placed $cientology responses in here.. SO you feel threatened by protestors??? $cientology protests people in front of their RESIDENTIAL HOMES!!! They are hypocrites and cowards AND obviously have 0 respect for the Bill of Rights. They believe they are above the President of the USA and his home The White House. Listen Co$ you are no where close AND being that no one will EVER BE BANNED from protesting the president of the US, Co$ has no chance of ever getting these garbage ordenances past. They bastardize freedom of speech, protest and assembly ALL THE WHILE hiding behind the freedom of Religion, moar like ALIEN CULT amirite???

[jeebus]

An organization tries to sell its customers the promise of developing exclusive superhuman powers.

The organization tries to portray itself as the only answer to all humanity's problems. It takes itself seriously, and buys lots of real estate. It says it's a religion when it's convenient.

And the people who paid lots of money to become uberhumans are scared of a handful of gay people with WORDS on SIGNS?

Sheesh!

[Donald Myers]

I am one of the protesters who was asked about his HIV status by the police and the la times reporter. I'm pictured shouting with a pope hat and mask on. The scientologists tried to smear me with my own health records and call me a "danger."

The police and the reporter were both disgusted.

You can find out more at www.angrygaypope.com

[Og Sono]

The origional ordinence that was rammed through initailly was based not on facts but on Black PR from the 'church' itself, a corrupt corporate entity that uses intimidation tactics (many manufactured 'truths') regularly to try and silence critics, its part of their basic doctrine as per founder LRH.
Freehugs comment on investigating their claims of 'residency' is extremely relevent and should be carried out by unbiased local and federal agencies.
A claim of '500' people living/working there should yield the facilities to house said '500', that meet all municipa/state building, safety, and health code standards and should be fully investigated without warning. The council should heed the affidavits of past 'residents' as well, insightful. The hole produced by this massive Co$ footbullet is only going to grow larger as this 'church' seems quite incapable of facing facts or telling the truth at the best of times imho.
The skeletons in the Co$ closets are getting restless and moving out into the world at large.

[Fredric L. Rice]

> met by carloads of deputies demanding identification

What the bloody hell? This was a criminal act of intimidation by Riverside County police to try to stop people from exercising their Constitutionally guarenteed rights. They had no cause and no civil or legal rights to demand people's identification, that was solely a criminal act perped by the police to try to racketeer peaceful American citizens in to setting aside their rights -- and their civil duty to oppose the Scientology crime syndicate!

[Inscrutable]

Fact: Lesley is a Scientologist.
Fact: Lesley is biased towards critics.
Fact: Lesley will mostly be ignored because Lesley is clearly brainwashed.
Fact: Lesley does not understand that Lesley has been brainwashed.
Fact: The time Lesley has spent has been wasted because critics have substantive information while Lesley does not.

Conclusion: Lesley has no information past the fact that she is biased against Scientology. Why bother to post a second time? Why not study up and come back with something useful to say?

[Fredric L. Rice]

Another interesting point here is that the rest of the world which has seen this fiasco bloom considers the attempts to violate people's rights as being undeniably a _Scientology_ crime, not a crime committed by the Board which sought to pass the new rule eliminating people's rights. Scientology's hatred of free speech, Democracy, and the rule of law is perceived as being the instigator, and the likes of Jeff Stone are considered around the world to be paid (under the table) minions of Scientology.

Whatever the truth is, whether Jeff Stone is a paid Scientology criminal or not, the perception around the world remains. Scientology's core criminality has splattered Jeff Stone and the rest of the Board that he's part of, and the world considers the whole county of Riverside to be awash in Scientology crime, grime, and corruption.

Short of raiding Scientology nation-wide, rolling up the ringleaders in Congressionally funded Federal raids, and indicting as many as can be caught before they flee to unextradictable countries, the least that the Board could do is fire Jeff Stone to show the world that Riverside County isn't a playpen for organized crime.

[Fredric L. Rice]

> So, during all this time, critics were protesting about a
> supposedly anti free speech ordinance when in fact
> it preserved their right to protest in the position where
> they protested before?

No, the human rights advocates showed up to protest against Scientology's crimes and human rights violations and immediately Scientology's ringleraders got on the telephone, dialed 911, and asked for SIX police cars and about 10 police officers to come and deny the human rights advocates' Constitutional rights.

The peaceful, law abiding protests against Scientology's crimes and abuses have always been peaceful, and any act of violence has always -- ALWAYS without exception -- been instigated by Scientology criminals bent on trying to deny people their rights as U. S. citizens.

I mention that because this time around the Scientology crooks tried to get the police to perform their crimes against American citizens for them, something which did not happen solely because the Los Angeles Times was there to record what would otherwise have been an even greater civil rights crime against the protesters.

With the LATimes person being present Scientology's abusive calls to the cops did not result in the cops committing assaults or other more serious crimes against the peaceful protesters. Had the LATimes not been there, we could have counted on the corrupt Riverside collaborators assaulting and arresting the peaceful protesters.

[Enlightenment]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion" or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[stetcherbearer]

Ahhhh! Smell the good ol' down home Hypocricy of all religions? Even" the Olny Major Relegion to emerege in the 20th Century"???? So What. It' would give me no end of pleasure to have the Scientologist picket my house, I'm a Freak and an Artist, the potential for performance street theatre is so enormous....If only....
L. Ron. Hubbard was a 4th rate not even near the quality or influence that H.g. Wells, Jules Verne, Arthur C. Clarke, carl Sagan etc...has had on the now dead an gone 20th? century, so Hey, If ican't actually influence practicality in the world why don't i cash in on a Syncretic pothead discussion about "why can't Science and religion get along man?"Smart buisness. The websites are lustrious 3d monstrosities that look like the beginning of a first operson space shooter game, that had to take some bread to make. I wonder who's got more cash, The roman ctholics, The moprmons or the Scientologists.... All I can say bis that the claims on the website are boastful, aphilosophical mumbo jumbo, that ANY Pseudo Dialectic argument deflates without getting out of bed. I gotten better "Truth And Practical Advice" From Godzilla Movies... Or A Good Robot Zombie movie... why am I writing this... why the hell do I care what happens in La? It's a vacuous craphole. The Greyhound station Downtown is the only place with any real culture. that hasn't been prefabricated or isn't polluted by pissant self-Intrest. Do Scientologists have to make a paper mache volcano to get in? you know like the old dianetects commercials on TV? that's at least the Science part of it. the -ology can only be a shortened Path.....You may get the play on words...
Piss Off posty.....Vyvyan....the young ones..
Good News L ron Hubbard is dead...me.
if you don'tlike my spelling or grammer, or formatting.. Pay me a million and a half to write a screenplay..or gon to hell.

[Aaron]

Damn straight. It is perfectly within our rights to protest in a public area, and the protesters' medical conditions are COMPLETELY irrelevant.

[Johan Svensson]

This is all very entertaining.
As an outsider looking in, I can only say that this is better than any TV drama to this date.
On one side we have a cult which in the '80s made complete arses of themselves in Swedish media. They falsy claimed that our king supported them. Oh boy, that didn't end well. They also try to sell their utterly worthless drug rehab program narCONon even though it has been found, in scientific evaluations, to be even less effective than not using nay rehab at all. They are still trying to keep their offices open in Sweden but there are only 2 left now.
The Dianetics Bookshops are closing down. The "orgs" (lol, their curches?) are sad looking places with little or no activity.
In Sweden Scientologists are accepted as people fooled to join a cult. They are pitied rather than hated or respected. Mostly they are ignored.
During our 7 to 9th grade years we study all religions of the world. The "odd ones" like Jehova's witness', Mormons, Hare Chrishnas and Scientology are invited to inform more since not much is admited in any written statement suitable for kids in the age of 13-15.
Scientology didn't come to my school since they insisted to have any questions we might aske sent to them beforehand. This is not acceptable to our teachers becaues they think that will limit our experience with live debates and on-your-feet reasoning.
All in all, they seem like the wierdest ones of the pack.... and that says quite a lot.

Then, on the other side we have some prople who are (or try to be) anonymous and call themselves Anonymous. They protest with amusing, yet serious, signs. They recite the Sci-Fi of Scientology for all to hear. They explain the background story of Scientology, their present leadership organization and explain why they are out protesting.
They are quite entertaining and I can't for my life see how anyone can honestly say they "are terrorists". I mean, come on.
They make sure to communicate with the general public. They are sweet and joke around, they are in some cases tasteless in what to my generation is absolutely roll-around-laughing-funny. I can see how sometimes the "bad taste" isn't percieved as a joke but that is more of a cultural issue than a religious or unlawfull one.

Keep it up Anonymous. From where I stand you are full of epic.

[Lesley]

Everyone, please forgive me. It's not my fault I'm brainwashed. I hope Anonymous wins.

[BGodley]

I wonder why the Scientologists feel so threatened by Free Speech?

Isolation = Brainwashing

And, how many "residents" of the Gold Base are actually prisoners in the "SP" hall?

[Robert Lindblad]

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on his deathbed told his son
"You know how to get rich... start a religion." admitting that Scientology is nothing but a fictionally created story.
Scientology is nothing but a corporation that thrives off the ignorance of it's followers by selling them and whoever else books, and courses on how to "improve" themselves spiritually.
One of their expensive scams is that they will sell you for extremely large
amounts of money a series of books that in the end are supposed to teach you how to walk through walls.... and after spending long hours of self deceptive meditation, a lot of money, and reading you become brainwashed to believe that you can actually walk through walls and when you try to and end up bumping your nose against the wall you are told that you couldn't do it because you're not ready yet however there are more books and courses available that will someday make it possible for you to do so for larger amounts of money butt not really.
Scientology = manipulative corporate scam brainwashing moneybaggers club
Scientologist = manipulated misguided fool

I know someone who got sucked into that Scientology I didn't know he was a Scientologist until one day, about 4 years ago, he said "Rob here's a book you should read." He passed me Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. I laughed and said "L. Con Flubbfart ha forget it." For the first time in the years since I've known the guy he displayed anger and I'm talking very angry!!! Verbally with an agressive face.
After that display he went on to talk about the ability to walk through walls, he hasn't reached that level but he plans on getting there etc...

[Fred Tanner]

"Considering that there was an incident, when a protestor has biten a security guard into its hand, it is highly relevant that 2 of them are HIV positive and that the security guards know that, so that they are extra cautious, when dealing with those protestors.

Posted by: AndreasFusse | January 13, 2009 at 07:48 PM"

It is only alleged that the security guard was bitten. The videos of the incident of Oct. 26 2008 at do not show the guard being bitten, only a peaceful protester who was lured back to his car (because Co$ guards were playing with a flare behind his vehicle) and then aggressively attacked & restrained by the scilon guards in which it appears more that the guard hit his hand on something that broke the skin (and then he screamed he was bitten).

More than likely it was just another was for the Co$ to manufacture a charge against the protester in accord with the scientology Fair Game policy but that is for the court to decide.

Whether scientology likes it or not a person is innocent until proven guilty!

[Dampier]

It's patently clear which of the replies in here come from the Scientology crowd themselves, and like their arguments before the Riverside Board of Supervisors, it just doesn't wash when you carefully consider the words they use.

1) The claims that Scientology does respect the 1st Amendment are belied by their actions. Critics of the church are routinely confronted, if not followed and investigated. There have been at least a dozen current documentaries, including one done by the BBC which clearly shows an active effort to pursue and confront any critic of this "church."

This entire affair illustrates that actions do speak louder than words. Earlier this month, a paid attorney working on behalf of the church claimed it recognized the rights for peaceful protest. Yet after the ordinance was adopted, a protest which occurred away from the residential areas was met, with a clear admission from a Scientology representative, with a 911 call because of "safety concerns."

Further, exactly how is the "peace" of the community maintained by a church that has a compound outfitted with a network of 120db speakers which produce an incredibly loud droning sound whenever a protester shows up. Try driving past this compound during a protest. You almost never hear a protester, but you will hear an incredibly loud sound from those speakers attempting to block residents from hearing the protesters. I am unclear as to how one "protects the peace" of residents by drowning out some human voices with something akin to the volume of a rock concert. What is the real agenda here?

2) More concerning to me are the incredibly elaborate security systems and other protective devices which mysteriously are aimed INWARDS, preventing someone within the compound from exiting, as opposed to someone from the outside coming in. Razor wire, high powered floodlighting, and elaborate camera setups. One would think if this church was under the oppressive and threatening assault it claims to face from protesters, it could readily produce video documentary evidence of that, yet I have seen none.

3) Exactly how did church officials obtain the medical status of certain protesters and, allegedly, provide that information to Riverside county deputies which they used at a recent protest when questioning protesters?

It seems to me Riverside County officials have been hoodwinked by the church into passing this unnecessary law, and they did it on an "emergency basis" at the behest of one board member. And now the consequences are starting to come home to roost. One has to ponder why one councilman seems so intent on defending this as some "religious freedom" protection act, when it is so readily apparent to be a restriction on freedom of speech and assembly. Perhaps the church has something on him - it wouldn't be the first time a private investigator has dug up dirt for this organization.

The right against trespass and existing noise ordinances (which should include those speakers by the way) provide plenty of existing protections for residents. If you want to enhance some protections for SINGLE USE properties to control protests against individuals to a reasonable degree, that is one thing, but this is an effort to control protests against an institution that is trying to claim protection based on a nonsensical and impossible to enforce MIXED USE property, which allows the church to throw up a tent or building every few feet within its confines and claim it residential, effectively prohibiting any protests, which is the ultimate goal here, of course.

The Board of Supervisors would do well to rescind this permanently and get on with their lives. There is no clamor for this kind of law except by those who hope to achieve a shield from the Constitutional freedoms afforded to all in the United States.

[hartman5555]

Jeffrey Stone, Riverside County Supervisor and owner of Innovative Compounding Pharmacy in Murrieta is lobbying to persuade Riverside County Counsel to prohibit peaceful picketing near Scientology’s Gold Base. Mr. Stone’s pharmacy supplies Scientology’s Gold Base with niacin and other vitamin mixtures.

Many people are outraged that the right to Freedom of Speech and Peaceful Picketing are being infringed upon.

[Critics_Scientology_is_clearly_NOT_for_YOU]

To all CRITICS...Scientology is CLEARLY NOT for YOU, so quit huffing and puffing for nothing like cry babies. STOP trying to CONTROL others because it's like BRAINWASHING.

People are interested in any religion because if offers them something THEY WANT.

It really angers me when I hear the truly ignorant talk about religions, which are spiritual retreats for humankind, with such disdain and without any true facts to back anything up. ALL YOU HAVE IS INNUENDO! The truth is that religion brings moral codes and people rely on that to keep their personal lives in check and it can improve the quality of their life! YOU WILL NEVER STOP THE HUMAN RACE FROM HAVING WHAT IT WANTS...TO BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAN HOW THINGS ARE.

You have no believable ARGUMENT or FACT, actual FACT that proves you are right!

YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING to thwart a human being's self interest in anything UNLESS you undermine them!

Not all people are dumb with low IQ's, nor are they like a herd of cattle. People are basically capable of THINKING FOR THEMSELVES! You know, intelligent!

People are only stupid if they listen to the likes of someone like you (because you only have your own self interest in mind, your political self interest) and then decide to instead SETTLE for getting labeled by some Quack psychiatrist when they merely have to confront their fears, experiences or past actions and to know that things can change no matter what anybody else like you thinks. Only the person knows best for himself, not a QUACK Psychiatrist who's probably a nutso themselves!

Are you aware that Quack psychiatrists approve "mental illnesses" by a show of hands? Even my college psych professor was ashamed to admit this.

People are SELF DETERMINED and they DO THINK FOR THEMSELVES!

WHAT QUALIFIES YOU to say how other people should help themselves? NOTHING! There is nothing short of GOD that could qualify you! YOU ARE ACTUALLY UNQUALIFIED to give advice except to your own self!

YOU STOP TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO! Who is the CULTIST now? YOU ARE! YOU ARE SOOOOOOO WRONG so that's why you TRY to make others WRONG!

[James Gleaner]

This sounds like the Pilgrams all over again. I guess we all forgot why our founding fathers came to the Americas. Pilgrims (known as the Pilgrim Fathers in the United Kingdom) were brought together by a common belief in the ideas promoted by Richard Clyfton, parson at All Saints' Parish Church in Babworth, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, between 1586 and 1605. Guess who was booted out of the U.S.

[Fredric L. Rice]

I wonder of this Jeff Stone clown has finally twigged to the fact that his Scientology masters duped him. Politically the idiot probably can't admit in public that the "journal" of lies and slander that the Scientology crime syndicate handed to him was something he fell for hook, line, and sinker. Now he's having to face a reputation of being either a paid Scientology criminal else an incompetent Scientology dupe, either one of which is grounds to fire the stupid idiot.

[Phil]

James Brown said,
"........ You don't see Liberals trying to pass ordinances on conservative radio talk show hosts because they dont want to hear what they have to say. So dont pass laws that infringe on rights of others that you dont like because thats is a negative spiral that can cause chaos."

Actually James, and I DO agree with most/all of your post, the libs(starting with Nancy Pelosi) are wanting to pass the "fairness doctrine" in order to squash/silence conservative and religious talk radio. They're mad cuz their "Radio America" didn't succeed like they wanted so they want to "control" free speech on the airways now. They want to force dissenting opinions onto conservative and religious programs rather than open their OWN radio stations or programs and let the market of ideas decide,etc. Basically, more government control when/if things don't go their way,etc. But...I digress.......heh.