Protesters picket Church of Scientology
By LYNN PORTER of The Tampa Tribune

CLEARWATER - A small group of people picketed the Church of 
Scientology Saturday, protesting what they called harassment by 
the religious organization, but Scientologists didn't holler back.

A small group of people picketed the Church of Scientology 
Saturday, protesting what they called harassment by the religious 
organization, but Scientologists didn't holler back.

``We wanted to do something more productive, like support the 
Pinellas Trail grand opening, which is what we're all about,'' 
said Brian J. Anderson, a church spokesman, referring to an event 
a few blocks from the protest. ``Who cares about these geeks?''

The fewer than 50 protesters carried signs with the 
messages ``Scientology Kills,'' ``Scientology's Biggest Skill: 
Harassment,'' and ``Lisa McPherson: Killed By Her Church?''


Scientologists took numerous photographs of the protesters in 
front of the church's religious retreat, the Fort Harrison Hotel. 
But they didn't face off with the demonstrators as they did in 
March, when about 300 turned out to counter-protest about 30
anti-Scientologist demonstrators.

Jeff Jacobsen, a protest organizer, said people who speak out 
against the church are viewed as criminals and harassed. He noted 
that many protesters came from distant states and foreign 
countries . He said about half the protesters are former 
Scientologists.

``Scientology hurts people, but they have a facade that they're a 
nice, benevolent religion,'' Jacobsen said.

In contrast to Saturday's event, Scientology members came out 
in force Friday night to picket Clearwater police headquarters, 
drawing attention away from church critics who held a candlelight 
vigil for 36-year-old Lisa McPherson.

A church spokesman said 4,000 church members turned out to 
show their frustration with what he called a campaign of 
harassment by the department. Police estimated the
numbers closer to 1,500 and denied the accusations.

McPherson, a Scientologist, died on Dec. 5, 1995, after a 17-day 
stay at the church's Clearwater headquarters. She died of a blood 
clot brought on by ``severe dehydration and bed rest,'' according 
to an autopsy.

Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Joan Wood determined McPherson 
went without fluids for at least five to 10 days and possibly for 
her entire stay at the hotel.

Church officials have called Wood a liar and say McPherson was 
well cared for. They say she suddenly fell ill, and died that 
evening.