Alan
Gold Meritorious Patron
http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/02/scientology-pro.html
February 10, 2008
Scientology protest in Clearwater
Update: 12 p.m.
Clearwater -- The crowd along Cleveland Street swelled to nearly 200 people as the Anonymous protest against the Church of Scientology got underway late Sunday morning, but the reaction of bystanders was mixed.
Bruce and Robin Wade of M.D. encountered the protest as they were waiting for the Steinmart department store to open. They had no opinion about the gathering.
"We don't even know what the issue is," the Wades said. "We don't have things lings like this where we live."
A few blocks east, Kimberli Gayette, 18, a student at the Central Florida Institute and a Clearwater resident called the whole thing, "ridiculous."
"Why do these people even care? What did the Scientologists do to them," Gayette said.
David Pendery, 20, who has been member of the Church of Scientology since he was 4-years-old walked along the street taking photographs of the protesters. When asked why, Pendery said that he had heard that it was "unlawful to wear a mask and I wanted to document it."
Pendery said that if there was an illegal activity, he would report it to the police.
--Times staff writers
11 a.m.
Clearwater -- The scheduled protest against the Church of Scientology was delayed until 11:30 a.m. this morning so as not to interfere with services at a nearby Presbyterian Church.
About 80 people clad in sunglasses, scarves and surgical masks gathered behind the Clearwater library preparing to protest against Scientology. Most carried signs that read slogans like "Scientology kills," or "Religion is free, Scientology is not."
The church hired 10 police officers to monitor the protest, organized by a new anti-Scientology organization known as Anonymous, which accuses the church of stifling free speech.
The event is particularly well-timed, organizers say, because it is the birthday of Lisa McPherson, a 36-year-old Scientologist who died in 1995 while in the care of church staffers.
Protesters carried a birthday cake for McPherson and even sang happy birthday.
--Mike Donila, Times staff writer
February 10, 2008
Scientology protest in Clearwater
Update: 12 p.m.
Clearwater -- The crowd along Cleveland Street swelled to nearly 200 people as the Anonymous protest against the Church of Scientology got underway late Sunday morning, but the reaction of bystanders was mixed.
Bruce and Robin Wade of M.D. encountered the protest as they were waiting for the Steinmart department store to open. They had no opinion about the gathering.
"We don't even know what the issue is," the Wades said. "We don't have things lings like this where we live."
A few blocks east, Kimberli Gayette, 18, a student at the Central Florida Institute and a Clearwater resident called the whole thing, "ridiculous."
"Why do these people even care? What did the Scientologists do to them," Gayette said.
David Pendery, 20, who has been member of the Church of Scientology since he was 4-years-old walked along the street taking photographs of the protesters. When asked why, Pendery said that he had heard that it was "unlawful to wear a mask and I wanted to document it."
Pendery said that if there was an illegal activity, he would report it to the police.
--Times staff writers
11 a.m.
Clearwater -- The scheduled protest against the Church of Scientology was delayed until 11:30 a.m. this morning so as not to interfere with services at a nearby Presbyterian Church.
About 80 people clad in sunglasses, scarves and surgical masks gathered behind the Clearwater library preparing to protest against Scientology. Most carried signs that read slogans like "Scientology kills," or "Religion is free, Scientology is not."
The church hired 10 police officers to monitor the protest, organized by a new anti-Scientology organization known as Anonymous, which accuses the church of stifling free speech.
The event is particularly well-timed, organizers say, because it is the birthday of Lisa McPherson, a 36-year-old Scientologist who died in 1995 while in the care of church staffers.
Protesters carried a birthday cake for McPherson and even sang happy birthday.
--Mike Donila, Times staff writer
