Mr. Bernie McCabe
-8-
January 22, 1999
Let’s not forget that shortly after the investigation began, the Medical Examiner went on tabloid TV
(Inside Edition)
announcing her conclusions that the Church had
denied
water for “up to 17 days.” This created an impression that carries forth to this day that the Church intended to kill Yet as even the charging affidavit now makes clear, that did not occur. But unfortunately this cannot change the media background upon which the charges are now superimposed.
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As for the annual celebration of
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death by anti-Scientologists, let
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me
stress
that these pickets did not merely appear in Clearwater. They appeared around the world, from Canada to Australia, across Europe in England, Sweden,
Germany, Denmark and other countries, as well as cities across the United States. I have included pictures as evidence of this international assault.
Law enforcement does not write headlines or design the picket signs of anti-Scientologists. That is true, but it is just as true that in charging the Church, these results were as predictable as the sun rising and setting each day. it is precisely what happens when the government targets an entire religion. Let us also not forget these pickets only began when the Clearwater police put this investigation on the Internet. And while some would argue that the investigation was not conducted in collusion with anti-Scientologists (though there is evidence to the contrary), it certainly has provided them with a springboard for the harassment of my religion.
The deplorable conduct of the protesters bears mentioning. While marching in front of our building, they carried a coffin on the sidewalk with the words,
“Scientology Kills.”
They carried signs that said,
Blood on Scientology Hands”, “My name was
and I was murdered by the Church of Scientology”
and
“Thank god L. Ron Hubbard is dead”.
Eerily reminiscent of the unconstitutional methods of earlier years were signs proclaiming,
“Honk
if
you hate Scientology”.
Meanwhile, county buses carried anti-Scientology “advertisements” (placed anonymously) including,
“Don’t Walk, RUN! Quit $cientology?”, “Find Out Why so Many People Oppose Dianetics & Scientology”, “Are you REALLY
happy in the Sea Org?”
(Scientology’s religious order), and
“Think for Yourself.
.
.
QUIT SCIENTOLOGY”.
It should be noted the bus boards were so offensive that a Commissioner of the City of Clearwater felt it necessary to bring them to the attention of the full Commission.
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One cannot doubt the
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case has become a
cause celebre
for
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anti-Scientologists. Holding a press conference upon their arrival in Clearwater, they began with an announcement— “Welcome to Occupied Clearwater.” Another
