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Glosslip sources revealed well-known anti-Scientology critic Mark Bunker was arrested along with another critic, Mark Lowell at the Scientology’s Hemet, California compound known as Gold Base. Bunker, was there to speak at meeting by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to discuss issues related to protests taking place at the Hemet Scientology facility. Video of today’s meeting can be seen here, including what Mark described as a “revealing links between Chairman Jeff Stone and close affiliations with the Church of Scientology. After the meeting, Mark and a group of protestors, including members of Anonymous who posted about the arrest at WhyWeProtest.net, headed to Gold Base for a previously scheduled protest. Gold Base is the main headquarters for Scientology’s secret sect the Sea Organization. The Sea Org consists of the most devout members, who are forced to sign the infamous “billion year contract”, and work at the secluded compound, often for only room and board. Glosslip has detailed some of the horrors and atrocities which have occurred within the Sea Org, including slave labor, forced abortions and physical violence. Glosslip was able to contact Mark Bunker shortly after he was arrested and processed for trespassing. Mark gave us the exclusive details on what led to the arrest of he and fellow protestor Mark Lowell. Mark said when they arrived at Gold after the meeting, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were already there waiting for protesters. Despite Scientology and Riverside County officials attempting to stop all protests at Gold, they were informed that they were still permitted to protest. Mark looked across the street he saw Lowell being arrested by deputies for trespassing and Bunker went over to see what the problem was. As he explained to me, protesters were previously permitted to walk in front of the entrance to Gold as long as they kept moving and didn’t block the entrance to the compound. While Mark was getting clarification from the Riverside deputies, he spotted Celebrity Center spokesperson and ubiquitous mouthpiece for the Church of Scientology Tommy Davis. As Mark was attempting to get a pictures of Davis, he walked across the entrance way and it was then that he was also placed under arrest. It wasn’t until Mark was released that he discovered he was arrested as part of a “citizen’s arrest” initiated by the same Cathy who attempted to discredit Bunker at the Riverside meeting. Cathy was cutoff by Riverside reps who stated the meeting was not to used for “personal attacks.” Mark was made aware
of the trespassing citation and will have to return to a Riverside Court in
April to answer the charges. He stated that he and Mark Howell are doing
fine and will not be deterred from their efforts to push for Riverside
officials to allow legal and peaceful protest to continue at Hemet. “Ultimately, the Church of Scientology wants to stop protests at Gold and are putting tremendous pressure on Riverside officials to halt these protests. Church officials attempting to paint Anonymous as a dangerous organization with the help of Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff Stone, who spoke 20 minutes worth on nonsense about Anonymous being a hate group. While they (Riverside) tried to halt the protests, the protests continue despite of their efforts. Scientology has yet to realize that their attempts to stop people from finding out the truth about the dangers and abuses of Scientology will only serve to create more interest, and ultimately more critics. We will keep protesting.” UPDATE: There’s a great article that gives some detail regarding the proposed Riverside ordinance Chairman Stone was attempting to pass at NBC. What’s interesting is the article states clearly that Scientology Church officials asked Stone for help with getting the ordinance passed and now the connection between Stone and Scientology is becoming an issue. “This ordinance reduces the risk of a violent confrontation and the likelihood of residents becoming captives in their own homes, where they should enjoy tranquility,” said board Chairman Jeff Stone, who first proposed the measure in November. The original anti-picketing proposal called for limiting demonstrations in residential areas to 300 feet or more from a target’s home. Stone withdrew the measure after it became clear he would not gain unanimous board support. The supervisor modified the ordinance in January to restrict picketing to 50 feet or more from a resident’s property line in unincorporated communities. However, opposition by colleagues Bob Buster and Roy Wilson prompted Stone to refer the matter to the county counsel’s office and sheriff’s department for further review. The current measure was drafted by County Counsel Pamela Walls, with input from sheriff’s officials. The original proposal stemmed from complaints by the Church of Scientology regarding protests outside its 500-acre “Gold Base” compound near Hemet. The facility combines the church’s “Golden Era” production studios with residential dwellings on either side of state Route 79. Church officials described feeling threatened by the half-dozen or so picketers who gathered outside Gold Base’s front gates last fall, shouting anti-church slogans and carrying signs condemning the church for alleged abuses. One person was arrested. Church officials apparently approached Stone, in whose district the compound is located, about curbing the demonstrations, which were characterized as being carried out by members of a hate group. Some of the protesters identified themselves as members of Anonymous, an international network of anti-Scientology activists who began protesting outside church facilities, often in masks, more than a year ago. Some of the protesters criticize the church for alleged anti-gay rhetoric, while others claim the church is holding people in virtual bondage.
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