Subject: picket report & revenge picket, Mt View, 11/20/98
From: humanrights@racerrecords.com (Kristi Wachter)
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 23:12:31 -0800
Message-ID: <humanrights-2311982312310001@racer.vip.best.com>

Picket Report, Friday, November 20, 1998
Mountain View

SUMMARY:

Suppressives: just me
Date/Time: 11/20/98, 12:30 - 1:15 pm
Handouts: fliers
Tools: sign, disposable camera, tape recorder, bag-o-suckers-n-mints
Weather: GORGEOUS
Foot Traffic: minimal
Street Traffic: steady
Scn Response: minimal onsite response; 3-person revenge picket later in the day
General Passerby Response: very favorable Stats: 3 mint/law fliers, 3 Lisa fliers

Note: as I do NOT have perfect memory and I don't check everything against my tape recording, any quotes below are very close paraphrases. I apologize for any inadvertent inaccuracies and will try to correct any errors that are pointed out to me.

OVERLONG NARRATIVE:

I had invited a few of the other Bay Area SPs to a lunchtime picket in Mountain View, so we could again sample some of the yummy Mexican food chez the franchise's new neighbors. Alas, no one showed, so in the immortal words of the Eagles, I had to eat my lunch all by myself. (The tortilla chips are wonderful, but I really didn't need a whole basket all to myself.) (Not that I didn't enjoy it.)

First, though, I put in a 45-minute picket - a surprisingly productive one for Mountain View. The weather was PERFECT - the very picture of Indian Summer.

Two pedestrians from nearby businesses came over and took fliers as soon as I started picketing. Later, an older lady pulled in to the parking lot to talk to me. She asked what I was picketing, and I said, "Dianetics and Scientology." She said, "For or against?" I said, "I'm against some of their practices, which I consider to be illegal." She said, "I believe that," and proceeded to tell me about her nephew, who had gotten sucked in (her phrase) some years ago. She said she paid off an $8,000 loan for him, and then another $3,000, and they just wouldn't leave him alone. I told her about Lisa and about the upcoming picket. She thanked me for picketing and drove off.

MEET THE NEIGHBORS

One gentleman who pulled into the parking lot took fliers and expressed special interest - his business was next to the franchise (I'm guessing he was on the other side: Mexican restaurant, Dianetics, his offices). He hadn't heard any of the criticisms before, and he appreciated the info.

A surprising number of people pulling into the parking lot were interested in my picket and read my sign. Only a handful of people studiously avoided looking at me.

DO THE WAVE

Following Keith's example from our last Mountain View picket, I tried to wave at everyone and everyone. I got LOTS of supportive honks from truck drivers, and many, many waves.

After 45 minutes, I popped into Los Dos Hermanos and had a hearty lunch, then took off for a client's office.

WE STILL KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE

I learned that evening that three revenge-picketers had demonstrated in front of my apartment building from 4 to 5 pm - a tall black gentleman, a young lady, and a strident lady. Apparently they got into some pretty loud arguments with passersby - some of the occupants of my building could hear them spouting their usual empty and insulting repartee, including sparklers like "You don't know what you're talking about!" I hear one of the passersby took issue with them for their celebrity chasing, too, prompting the tired "There are Jesuit celebrities, too!" Yes, and are there Jesuit Celebrity Centres [TM], too? Hmm?

I like to hang out with them when they picket, chatting and giving the other side of the story, but it's always encouraging to know that the passersby recognize their arguments as intellectually bankrupt even without my balancing presence. <grin>

Incidentally, I believe this is a first - I don't think they've ever revenge-picketed me for picketing Mountain View before.

--
Kristi Wachter

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