COMPLETE Press Release: Clearwater business petition MAN HARPOONS!

There's been a few requests for a statement regarding the recent actions by Scilons in Clearwater: using signatures from the many business they run in that area for a petition that would stop the protests altogether or move them to an area with less human traffic.

All the info on it can be found in this thread here. Have a link to the body of the petition too.

OP will be updated with good edits.

NEWEST VERSION:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. May 14, 2008 - The Church of Scientology in Clearwater Florida has once again failed to impede the rights of US citizens to free assembly and free speech.

On May 9th 2008 a petition was filed with Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater Florida[1]. In that petition, 37 merchants of the Cleveland Street district assert that frequent anti-Scientology demonstrations are disruptive to commerce in downtown Clearwater, making it difficult to attract new customers to the downtown district.

A loosely-affiliated, internet-based group of individuals who refer to themselves as 'Anonymous' has held global protests against the Church of Scientology every month since February. They plan to continue holding demonstrations each month until the Church's tax exempt status is revoked (where applicable), it is properly penalized for its criminal activities, and it ceases all illegal and immoral activities that still take place today.

The signatory list contains 6 duplicate business entries, 7 signatories that do not have a valid or existing business license in Clearwater and finally there are 3 that are completely illegible[2]. That indicates that of the original 37 signatories, only 21 are valid signatures - all of which have long standing ties to the Church of Scientology, the target of the protests the petition aims to stop.

Many of these businesses are not open during weekends, when the protests are held. Businesses with ties to Scientology that were open during the protests had 'Anonymous Not Welcome' signs featured predominantly in their shop fronts.

This petition is the latest in a series of attempts to thwart the legal rights of those opposed to the Church of Scientology. On March 10th, 2008, the Church of Scientology sought to enjoin future protests via judicial authority. A "Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence" was filed with Florida's Sixth Circuit District Court seeking the extraordinary remedy of injunctive restraint pending further proceedings. The Honorable W. Douglas Baird (Circuit Judge) struck down this original complaint and acted similarly upon re-filing (adding prejudice to the latter)[3].

A pattern of similar efforts to silence dissent can be found throughout Scientology's past.

On Tuesday, the City Council spent less than two minutes discussing the issue. The members agreed to send a letter to the businesses, saying they would not address the issue[4].

For more information, please visit Enturbulation.org. Updates on this and other stories pertaining to the Church of Scientology can be found at the Enturbulation Press Page[5].

[1]http://www.clearclearwater.com/images/1/1c/Pdfa6054.pdf

[2]http://forums.enturbulation.org/42-english-composition-only/press-release-clearwater-business-petition-13834/2/#post254319

[3]http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/12/images/Scientologyinjunction.pdf

[4]http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article503671.ece

[5]http://www.enturbulation.org/press-media

# # #

PLZ TO TURN OFF "Automatically parse links in text" if you're posting edits!

Denying service to Anons?! Info please!!!

I wonder if you could get some store owners from others cities that are around COS locations and get an account at how their business actually increased because of anonymous patronage. The same would have happened in Clearwater, except signs were displayed forbidding anonymous members from entering. Not to mention, if you weren't up to date about the Anonymous/Scientology feud and saw a sign in front of a business saying "We don't serve anonymous," you'd probably figure it was some sort of private club and not enter. Companies that turn away business typically get less business.

Here's the compiled data from the original thread at:

http://forums.enturbulation.org/15-b...inesses-13738/

ISSUES:

1. Redundant signatures for the same business
2. Unlicensed / non-existent business
3. Businesses listed that are not anywhere near the protest route
7. Invididuals with no connection to a business signing
4. Stores claiming protests have affected their business even though they had "anonymous not welcome" signs up
5. Businesses that are closed on the weekend still claiming protests affect their business
6. A Scientologist on the city council appears to have faxed this petition from his office
7. All but two of the fully legible / complete entries are from scientologists or scientologist-owned businesses. Where are the "regular" merchants that don't have any other agenda?


FORMAT:

Person's Name
Business Name
Business Address
Supporting Links (showing Scientology connection)
Notes

1 Margaret Seabloom (scientologist)
Skin Perfection Studio
No business by that name found
Margaret Seabloom - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

2 Cary Goulston (scientologist)
Salon Bravo
409 Cleveland St, 33755
Scientology - Cary Goulston a Scientologist - find out what I have gained from Scientology...

3 Illegible
Rose's Jewelry
No business by that name found
Invalid

4 Beatrice A.
One Stoppe Shoppe (scientologist owned business)
411 Cleveland St, 33755
One Stoppe Shoppe - About Our Stoppe Store
Paris Morfopoulos - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

5 Valorie Shillington (scientologist)
The Rabbit Hole Cafe
425 Cleveland St, 33755
Valorie Shillington - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

6 Jeff P. Hendrick (scientologist)
Jeffpaulco
No business by that name found
Jeffrey P. Hendrick - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

7 Louise Stephens
High Point Realty (scientologist owned business)
413 Cleveland Street, 33755
High Point Real Estate Home Page
David Kerr - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

8 Jim Valco (scientologist)
NuLean Nutritional Supplements
No business by that name found
Jim Valco - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

9 Liz Adams (scientologist)
Clearwater Realty
519 Cleveland St # 100, 33755
Liz Adams - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

10 Diana Rejell
Peter Gillham's Vitamins (scientologist owned business)
411 Cleveland St, 33755
Peter F. Gillham - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

11 Illegible
Helen's Tayloring
423 Cleveland St # 102, 32755
Unconfirmed connection

12 Janice Batey (scientologist)
The People Link Inc
423 Cleveland St, 33755
Janice Batey - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

13 Susan D. Player (scientologist)
Illegible
Impossible to look up
Susan D. Player - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project
Note: There is a Susan Player, Chiropractor at 1433 Gulf to Bay Blvd. Not on protest route

14 Paris Morfopoulos (scientologist)
One Stoppe Shoppe
411 Cleveland St, 32755
Paris Morfopoulos - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project[/quote]

Continued (for some reason the database barfs it I try to put it all in one post)

15 Ingrid Collewijn (scientologist)
Health Motion PT serv
No business by that name found
Ingrid Collewijn - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

16 Caroline Veach (scientologist)
World Financial Group 639
Cleveland St #200, 33755
Caroline Veach - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

17 Illegible
Illegible
519 Cleveland St, 33755
WISE 2001 Directory

18 Paul Hernandez (scientologist)
Cleavland St. Café *** CLOSED SATURDAYS (hours M-F 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
615 Cleveland St, 32755
Paulo Cesar Reyes Hernandez - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

19 Illegible
Stonebridge Real Estate (scientologist owned business)
1465 S Fort Harrison Ave # 103 33756
Repeat of #31 (same scientologist owned business)

20 Illegible
Illegible
No address
Invalid

21 Illegible, CEO is Ron Dean (does company know their name is on list?)
Groupware International (company name scratched out)
601 Cleveland St, 33764
Unconfirmed connection

22 Angela Gioffre (scientologist)
G&P Fashion Service
409 Cleveland St, 33755
Angela Gioffre - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

23 Jasmine Salan (scientologist)
La Bella Hair Studio
123 N Fort Harrison Ave, 33755
Jasmine Salan - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

24 Joanna Hanos (scientologist)
Botanica Day Spa
123 N Fort Harrison Ave, 33755
Same business as #24

25 Gen Cournoyer (scientologist)
Botanica Day Spa
123 N Fort Harrison Ave, 33755
Gen Cournoyer - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

26 Ugo Moi (scientologist)
Cafe Milano
105 N Fort Harrison Ave, 33755
Ugo Moi - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project
Note: No business license found

27 Michelle Lea Robertson (scientologist)
Bellissima Salon & Spa
101 N Fort Harrison Ave, 33755
Michelle Lea Robertson - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

28 Robin Hoss (sp?)
Pangea Café (scientologist owned business)
34 North Fort Harrison Ave, 33755
Note: Owned by Geri Aranjo and Sylvia Heneghan

29 Rose (illegible)
LaRose Soup & Salad
No business by that name found
Invalid
Note: No business license found

30 Gro Miller (scientologist)
Florida Gulf Coast Homes *** Had "anonymous not welcome" sign in window
631 Cleveland St, 32755
Invalid
Scientology Statistics Database - Search Results

31 Brian Andrus (scientologist)
Stonebridge Real Estate
1465 S Fort Harrison Ave # 103, 33756
The Brian & Donna Andrus Family - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

32 Linda (illegible)
Resident
None
Invalid

33 Brian Kirby
Annie Rose Deli
647 Cleveland St, 32755
Unconfirmed connection

34 Louis J. Chacones
Angie's Restaurant
725 Cleveland St, 32755
Unconfirmed connection

35 Charlene Townsend
Cosmos Realty
6 S Myrtle Ave, 33756 *** Is this even on protest route?
Note: Cosmos Realy = Louis J. Chacones and Charlene Townsend (see 34)

36 Julie Tucker
Clearwater Classics
No business by that name found

37 Wallace Woodbury (scientologist)
Aesthetic Mind Studios
411 Cleveland Street #105, 33755
Wallace Woodbury - Scientology Service Completions | Truth About Scientology Statistics Project

Originally Posted by theframeproblem

Denying service to Anons?! Info please!!!

lurk moar!
here is the link: http://forums.enturbulation.org/98-f...windows-13419/

Some images:

#30 is Gro Miller, confirmed Scieno.

So the confirmed count is 28 out of 37~~?!?!?!

Some quick stats:

Out of 37 total signatures...

26 came from identified scientologists or scientologist owned businesses.

8 were either illegible, came from a person not representing a business, or from a business that doesn't appear to exists (no license or business phone directory listing found).

2 appear to be dupes for the same business, just different names.

So... that means that

26 of the 27 (valid, non-dupe) signatures came from someone with a scientology agenda. That's 96% of the valid signatures. I bet that number would be even higher with a little more digging.

Yeah -- clearly no hidden agenda here.

Oooh... wait -- we can knock Paul Hernandez off of the "valid" signatories because his freakin' business isn't open on Saturdays.

100% WIN!

I'm going to lunch.

Originally Posted by XenuLovesU

Some quick stats:

Out of 37 total signatures...

26 came from identified scientologists or scientologist owned businesses.

8 were either illegible, came from a person not representing a business, or from a business that doesn't appear to exists (no license or business phone directory listing found).

2 appear to be dupes for the same business, just different names.

So... that means that

26 of the 27 (valid, non-dupe) signatures came from someone with a scientology agenda. That's 96% of the valid signatures. I bet that number would be even higher with a little more digging.

Yeah -- clearly no hidden agenda here.

For this press release don't connect the dots, just the facts.

Any one with half a brain will connect them for us.

If no one starts writing it soon I'll give my hand at it in a sec.

I want to point out too most petitions are measured in hundreds, if not in thousands!

And they were able get 37 people to cry. 37.

Originally Posted by Skeptic1337

Some images:

oooh -- nice job digging those up

As far as phrasing with the press release...
This is generally going to be regarded as a local issue. Further, if we put out a press release saying 'Hey, local businesses in clearwater are annoyed by Anonymous!' we run the risk of other businesses in other cities going 'hey, y'know, my business does suffer when they're outside....'

I think the press release should be written up as a follow-up to the press release about the failed injunctions in clearwater. This should be clearly described as further attempts to thwart the right to assembly and free speech. We should clarify that the right to assembly prevents GOVERNMENT action from interfering with our protests, and that this is yet another attempt by Scientology to manipulate the Government to denying us our rights.

edit: For reference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FLORIDA COURT DENIES PETITION FROM THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ANONYMOUS

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. March 12, 2008 . Facing the second worldwide protest in as many months, the Church of Scientology and its associates in Clearwater (Florida) have petitioned for a restraining order against a nameless, faceless group of peaceful protesters. A cover sheet and a civil complaint were .led, and the case docket [1] is available online. The injunction was titled “Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence” and is available to download in PDF form from the St. Petersburg Times [2]. Today, that petition was denied.

The petition was submitted by Roger Akiyama and Paul Kellerhals (of.cials of the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization) with Rev Heber Jentzsch - the President of the Church of Scientology Inte
ational. The document is considered a swo
statement, but contains evidence whose origin and context is heavily disputed. One member of Anonymous was of the opinion that “It is clear from this statement that high ranking of.cials within the Church of Scientology are prepared to perjure themselves in order to silence their critics”.

If passed, this injunction would have violated both the Florida and US Constitution. Analysts said that the attempted restraining order was unlikely to be accepted by a judge because of overwhelming Federal and State precedents. For example, Talley v. Califo
ia (Supreme Court, 1960, case 362) struck down a Los Angeles city ordinance that made it a crime to distribute anonymous pamphlets. In addition, the Florida Constitution guarantees citizens “the right peaceably to assemble, to instruct their representatives, and to petition for redress of grievances.”

The aggressive legal stance adopted by Church of Scientology is typical of their “fair game” policy [3] as described in a 1967 letter by Church founder and supreme authority L. Ron Hubbard. The policy states that enemies “may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline,” or “tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”. In practice, the policy results in personal and litigious harassment of critics or other enemies of the organization.

A petition for a restraining order in Florida must have the full name, current address and phone number of the person to be served [4]. However, the petition filed by Scientology identifies as its target “an association of people known as Anonymous.” According to the US Constitution, the Federal Gove
ment may not pass any laws “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble…” The Fourteenth Amendment applies this prohibition to all State Gove
ments as well.

The Church of Scientology is attempting to suppress the unalienable rights of United States citizens. In this case, the right to peaceful assembly is under attack via subversion of the Constitution through an illegitimate use of public courts. This demonstrates yet again that Church of Scientology leaders do not wish to operate in an environment where free speech is permitted.

The first Anonymous protest on February 10th drew over 9000 people in more than 100 cities across the globe to demonstrate peacefully in front of their local Scientology centers. This was the largest demonstration against the Church of Scientology to date. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the Church of Scientology is once again using strategic nuisance litigation to silence its newest critics.

Linda R Allan, Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County, Florida ruled on March 12th:

“The amended petition for injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence is DENIED WITH PREJUDICE as to the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.” [5]

The ruling denies the petition to the Church of Scientology on the grounds that it can not, as a corporate entity, petition for a restraining order based on Florida statute that is designed to protect individuals from crimes of assault and battery. Individual petitioners were instructed by the Court to re.le petitions separately, and individually, if they so choose, with individual allegations as required by the law. Independent analysis indicates that such .lings can not pass the legal requirements unless associates of the Church name speci.c persons and actions in their allegations related to Anonymous. Such allegations themselves would have to be contrived or perjurous, as no instance of illegal action by the protesters is known at this time and illegal action is frowned upon by the consensus of Anonymous.

The petitioners identi.ed certain individuals as “leaders” of Anonymous, a statement that is inherently false in its nature. Anonymous does not rely on the promotion of individual persons into positions of power or leadership, and attempts to