Published:
Judge Dismisses Charges Against Scientology Protester
On October 22nd Boston Municipal Court dismissed the charge of criminal harassment against 'Anonymous' anti-Scientology activist Gregg Housh, pending an order for the two parties to not approach each other.
The group known "Anonymous" is a loosely organized collective, aiming to stop the abuses perpetrated by the Church of Scientology, and all of its front groups (Narconon, Criminon, CCHR, etc). Anyone can declare himself or herself a part of Anonymous, and all Anonymous persons are free to keep their identities a secret.
Housh had been one of many participants in multiple peaceful protests against the controversial and criminal practices of Scientology, including protests on February 10th and March 15th of this year. On March 1st, two weeks before the March protest, four participants entered the front lobby of the Scientology organization's Beacon Street building (or "church"); Housh did not enter the premises. However, Housh had registered his name with the city of Boston as the protest permit holder, and the Scientology organization obtained his name by requesting it from the city. Shortly afterwards, Housh was served with charges of trespassing, criminal harassment, and months later disturbing the peace and disturbing religious worship.
The four charges were misdemeanors, yet Scientology used legal tactics to delay the case for nearly six months. This follows a standard tactic dictated by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard regarding the use of the legal system: "The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than win. The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly." - L. Ron Hubbard, "The Scientologist, a Manual on the Dissemination of Material," 1955. [1]
After passing through the courts of four separate judges, Judge Thomas C. Horgan issued a one-year "continuance without a finding," effectively dismissing the charges. Terms of the dismissal included a one-year extension of an existing stay order which states that Housh may not approach two properties owned by the Church of Scientology in Boston within 100 yards. Additionally, Judge Horgan has ordered the Scientology organization not to approach within 100 yards of Housh. Lawyers representing the Scientology organization agreed to abide by this stipulation.
On October 23, 2008, the Church of Scientology issued a press release incorrectly stating that Housh was a "self-proclaimed leader" of a local cell of a terrorist group called "Anonymous". Housh denies this claim and further states, "I am not a leader, Anonymous has no leaders. I am simply someone dedicated to a just cause. Anonymous is not a terrorist group, but a collection of individuals united by ideas. One of these ideas happens to be freedom of speech, and is the main reason this all started."
Project Chanology is an ongoing campaign by the collective known as Anonymous against the abuses of the Scientology organization. The campaign's main component takes the form of a monthly world-wide protest. Over 9,000 individuals have joined a global protest on any particular day - each one of which has been entirely free from any form of violence.
An info package has been created and is available for download at http://img1.anonbw.com/press/GoldInfoPack.pdf
For more information, visit:
http://www.whyweprotest.net/
http://www.unfairgame.net
http://www.exscientologykids.com/
http://www.youfoundthecard.com/
References:
[1] Scientology's "Purpose of a lawsuit" - http://www.fairgamed.org/lawsuit.htm
Tags: Anonymous,Judge Dismisses Charges Against Scientology Protester,Scientology activist Gregg Housh,
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