Starting point for May 10 press release

This press release for April 12, created with much input from fellow Anons and ex-scientologists and some with media experience, is what my humble self believes generated such good press coverage from Canada and most-specifically Winnipeg. I've ginned it up for May 10.

Consider this a starting point. We have lotso time to play with it. The replacement paragraph I wrote up is a bit long....maybe you can do better. Any good suggestions I'll incorporate into the version below.

SUBJECT:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OPERATION: FAIR GAME STOP PROTEST MAY 10TH 2008

BODY:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"OPERATION: FAIR GAME STOP" PROTEST MAY 10TH 2008
Worldwide Protest Against the Scientology Fair Game Policy

YourTown, – Today Date 2008 – A peaceful protest against the abusive policies of Scientology will begin on May 10, 2008, at 11am at the corner of Street and Avenue Ave.

This is the fourth protest in as many months being promoted by a loose conglomeration of grassroots activists under the heading of "Anonymous". This international movement includes ex-Scientologists, longtime cult researchers, and concerned citizens from all walks of life.

May 10 will focus specifically on Scientology's "Fair Game Law", which states that persons or agencies Scientology considers to be enemies may be:

"deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."

Although Scientologists claim the Fair Game Law was cancelled in 1968, the text of the cancellation makes it clear that only the usage of the term "Fair Game" was canceled. Indeed, there are many examples demonstrating that the practice of Fair Game continues to this day.

During this event we shall distribute informative fliers and promoting educational websites. We are also happy to answer questions from the media and public.

For more reading, an information package about Scientology and Anonymous has been created and is available for free download at: RapidShare: 1-Click Webhosting
(MAKE SURE YOU REPLACE WITH THE ACTUAL LINK)

Facial covering is recommended for anyone who wishes to protest. Scientology maintains a policy of attacking critics by any means possible, legal or otherwise, and many protesters report being followed, harassed, and intimidated following the previous protests.

# # #

In my city we don't have any ex-staff who will be telling their stories of fair game (actually, we might).
If you do, then change this line:

During this event we shall be passing out informative fliers and promoting educational websites. We are also happy to answer questions from the media and public.

to read:

During the event victims of scientology's Fair Game policy will be telling their stories. Anonymous will be passing out informative fliers, promoting educational websites, and answering questions from the media and public.

Or you could just mention there will be speeches.

Note that a press release should be sent (according to an enturb member with press experience) about 1 - 2 weeks before the event. Any further out than that and they will forget about it.

For the subject of the email, just combine the first two lines into this:

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - "OPERATION GAME OVER" PROTEST MAY 10TH 2008"


ALSO NOTE THE TWO WEBSITE REFERENCES NEED TO BE CHANGED TO THEIR FULL TEXT FOR THE EMAIL, NOT THE FORMATTED VERSION ENTURBULATION AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED ABOVE.

Before diving into the text, I think we should assemble all the information we want to include in the PR.

We need:

Date/time (duh)
Excerpt of Fair Game policy
Mention and possibly excerpt from cancellation letter
Where to get more information
Operation Fair Game: Stop (USA)
Operation Fair Game Over (Alt.)
Facial coverings
Previous peaceful protests
Caek, hot dogs, and balloons for mom?

I dunno about you, but something about a guy in an apron and a Guy Fawkes mask grillin' weenies just appeals to me.

HCO PL 21 October 1968, "Cancellation of Fair Game" says:
The practice of declaring people FAIR GAME will cease. FAIR GAME may
not appear on any Ethics Order. It causes bad public relations.
This P/L does not cancel any policy on the treatment or handling of an
SP.

^^^^
This part really needs to be stressed. As we've seen with Reconnect, Pat Harney will most definitely deny that this policy exists, and was canceled 40 years ago. It would be ideal if the press was educated enough to introduce this as a counterpoint during the interview. Many bricks would be shat by Harney, many lulz would be had by us.

http://img1.anonbw.com/press/GoldInfoPack.pdf

^ gold info pack

for reference the april press release is here:
http://img1.anonbw.com/press/AprilReconnect.pdf

Originally Posted by Tom Socrates

Operation Fair Game: Stop (USA)
Operation Fair Game Over (Alt.)

the fact their isnt gamestop outside of US is of no conseqence imo.
making different name for locations reduces impact

Originally Posted by LurkingObesity

HCO PL 21 October 1968, "Cancellation of Fair Game" says:
The practice of declaring people FAIR GAME will cease. FAIR GAME may
not appear on any Ethics Order. It causes bad public relations.
[i]This P/L does not cancel any policy on the treatment or handling of an
SP.

^^^^
This part really needs to be stressed. As we've seen with Reconnect, Pat Harney will most definitely deny that this policy exists, and was canceled 40 years ago. It would be ideal if the press was educated enough to introduce this as a counterpoint during the interview. Many bricks would be shat by Harney, many lulz would be had by us.

Absolutely, Scientologists always mention that the policy was canceled, and EVERY protester needs to be familiar with this HCOPL as well as the earlier Fair Game Law definitions and examples of Fair Game.

Examples:

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Breckenridge, June 1984, in the Gerry Armstrong case:
"In addition to violating and abusing its own members' civil rights, the organization over the years with its 'fair game' doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the church whom it perceives as enemies."
Operation Clambake presents: Quotes about Scientology


California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986):
"Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically.... We do not mean to suggest Scientology's retributive program as described in the evidence of this case represented a full scale modern day "inquisition." Nevertheless there are some parallels in purpose and effect. "Fair game" like the "inquisition" targeted "heretics." "Other testimony established Scientology is a hierarchal organization which exhibits near paranoid attitudes toward certain institutions and individuals---in particular the government, mental health professions, disaffected members, and others who criticize the organization or its leadership... “

Court of Appeals of California, Second Appellate District, Division Seven. July 18, 1989.] LARRY WOLLERSHEIM, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA, Defendant and Appellant (Opinion by Johnson, J., with Lillie, P. J., and Woods (Fred), J., concurring.)
“….Evidence was introduced that, at least during the time relevant to Wollersheim's case, "fair game" was a practice of retribution Scientology threatened to inflict on "suppressives," which included people who left the organization or anyone who could pose a threat to the [212 Cal.App.3d 880] organization. Once someone was identified as a "suppressive," all Scientologists were authorized to do anything to "neutralize" that individual -- economically, politically, and psychologically.
…..
Appellant argues these "fair game" practices are protected religious expression.
…..
We are not certain a delibgrate campaign to financially ruin a former member or the dishonoring of debts owed that member qualify as "religious [212 Cal.App.3d 891] practices" of Scientology. But if they do, we have no problem concluding the state has a compelling secular interest in discouraging these practices. (See pp. 884-886, supra.) Accordingly, we hold the freedom of religion guaranties of the United States and California Constitutions do not immunize these practices from civil liability for any injuries they cause to "targets" such as Wollersheim.”
Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology (1989)

For writing this 1991 article on scientology for Time magazine:
TIME Magazine Cover: Scientology Exposed - May 6, 1991 - Religion
journalist Richard Behar became a target of “Fair Game”, the results of which he describes in 1992 while receiving an award for his article:
Author of the 1991 Time Magzine article, RICHARD BEHAR, 1992 LEO J. RYAN award recipient speaks

For the press release, it should be kept as concise as possible. Adding the entire cancellation quote would be too much text, but just pointing out that the cancellation was just a cancellation of the usage of the term rather than the policy is getting the point accross.

Maybe it can be included....rewrites anyone?

You is right...on May 10 there will be media and interested public everywhere, and all protesters should stress that the practice of "Fair Game" was never actually cancelled.

Originally Posted by An0nYm0use

http://img1.anonbw.com/press/GoldInfoPack.pdf

^ gold info pack

Is that the same as the info pack linked to in the OP press release?

Originally Posted by winanon

Is that the same as the info pack linked to in the OP press release?

should be... unless its changed since 4/12

Originally Posted by An0nYm0use

should be... unless its changed since 4/12

Well, if it's undergoing changes that will likely be announced, hopefully

It is the first time I read the expression "Fair Game Law". I always saw "Fair Game Policy", as it was mentioned in a Policy Letter (PL).

Besides, I inform you that a Press room will be ready very soon. It would be nice that this Press release appears there when ready.

Originally Posted by Ann O'Nymous 2

It is the first time I read the expression "Fair Game Law". I always saw "Fair Game Policy", as it was mentioned in a Policy Letter (PL).

Besides, I inform you that a Press room will be ready very soon. It would be nice that this Press release appears there when ready.

i assume it was a typo.

best to not use it.

Originally Posted by Ann O'Nymous 2

It is the first time I read the expression "Fair Game Law". I always saw "Fair Game Policy", as it was mentioned in a Policy Letter (PL).

Besides, I inform you that a Press room will be ready very soon. It would be nice that this Press release appears there when ready.

Learn moar: Fair Game (Scientology) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HCO POLICY LETTER OF 23 DECEMBER 1965
(Replaces HCO Policy Letter of 7 March 1965,
Issue 1. This was originally misdated as
1 March 1965)
Post Public
Bulletin Board (HCO Division 1)

ETHICS

SUPPRESSIVE ACTS

SUPPRESSION OF SCIENTOLOGY AND SCIENTOLOGISTS

THE FAIR GAME LAW
Suppressive Acts

Thanks for letting me know about the press room. I'll look for it.

Send out your releases in the next day or two, Monday at the very latest.

This is the forth protest in as many months being promoted by a loose conglomeration of grassroots activists under the heading of "Anonymous".

4th is FOURTH, not FORTH.

Originally Posted by anonameusfawkes

4th is FOURTH, not FORTH.

I needed you about an hour ago before I sent out our local releases!

Corrected above, thanks.