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*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

THIRD ANNUAL PROTEST AGAINST SCIENTOLOGY DECEMBER 5,6 1997 IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA

Contact: Local contact: December97@juno.com

or

Arnie Lerma alerma@dgs.dgsys.com 

Jeff Jacobsen cultxpt@primenet.com 

The third annual peaceful demonstration against the Church of Scientology will
be held in Clearwater Florida this December 5 and 6, 1997. Clearwater is the
spiritual world headquarters of Scientology. Last March about 30 protesters came
from around the United States and from the Clearwater area to protest
Scientology's harsh treatment of its critics and its own members. There were
other protests around the world as well, mostly organized on the internet.
Critics point out the harmful and dangerous practices of the church, their
exorbitant and aggressive monetary requirements, their policy of attacking
anyone they consider an "enemy", and their own incarceration of members deemed
problematic to the church.

Many people have been hurt by these practices.

Lisa McPherson, a 36 year old Scientologist, died December 5, 1995 at
Scientology's Ft. Harrison Hotel in downtown Clearwater. After a 17 day stay
while under the care of fellow Scientologists, Lisa lost approximately 40
pounds, had scabs and bruises all over her body, was severely dehydrated and was
pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital many miles from the hotel but with a
Scientologist doctor on duty. "We don't want the church's quack medical
practices killing anyone else," said demonstrator Jeff Jacobsen. "We want the
church to renounce their practices of incarceration and to stop hurting people
both inside and outside their organization."

Last March in front of the Ft. Harrison Hotel protesters were individually
surrounded by Scientologists who used their signs to cover and hide protesters'
signs. During the candlelight vigil in memory of Lisa McPherson held across from
the Ft. Harrison Hotel where Lisa died, mourners were taunted and pushed, and
even had their candles blown out by Scientologists.

On Friday December 5 there will be a press conference during the day including
several ex-Scientologists who will explain the cruel treatment inside
Scientology. There will also be a candlelight vigil in Lisa McPherson's memory
that evening at 6:30pm in front of the Ft. Harrison Hotel where Lisa died, on
the second anniversary of her death.

On Saturday December 6 there will be a peaceful demonstration across from the
Ft. Harrison Hotel at 210 S. Ft. Harrison. The protest is designed to inform the
public about Scientology's harmful practices and actions.

For further information: 

http://www.primenet.com/~cultxpt/demo.htm 

http://www.primenet.com/~cultxpt/lisa.htm 

http://www.lermanet.com/cos/

http://www.tampatrib.com/reports/scientol/home.htm