We’re on the road today, and so we’re thankful that frequent contributors Jeffrey Augustine and Chris Shelton have pitched in with a couple of interesting items. First, Jeffrey had some thoughts about this past weekend’s noted gang summit in south Los Angeles, and what it means for Scientology…
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck attended a gang summit organized by Rappers Snoop Dogg and The Game and hosted by the Church of Scientology and the Nation of Islam on July 17, 2016 at the Scientology Community Center in the Vermont Knolls district of Los Angeles. Snoop didn’t make the scene, but The Game did, and he posed for photos with Beck in a show of unity, calling for peace among LA’s violent gangs. The event was run by Nation of Islam minister and long-time Scientologist Tony Mohammed, and its theme was “Time To Unite: United Hoods + Gangs Nation.”
Given the current climate of race relations in this country, it’s a good thing to see someone like The Game shaking hands with a police chief, and for that reason it got quite a bit of press coverage. What got less attention was the Church of Scientology’s involvement, and the familiar faces we spotted in photographs of the meeting. We couldn’t help notice that noted Scientology figures the Rev. Alfreddie Johnson Jr. and his son Rizza Islam were present.
This marks a return for Alfreddie to Los Angeles, who has been spending time in Florida after the rather spectacular demise of his “World Literacy Crusade” in Compton, whose cratering left behind not only empty buildings, but also felony charges for several of its former employees, including his son Rizza and Rizza’s mother, Hanan Islam.
In Clearwater, Alfreddie tried to remake himself as a businessman who was helping build entrepreneurial connections between the U.S. and Dubai with a partnership called AmeriBest. There was even talk of AmeriBest building a Disneyland in the Gulf city.
Apparently, things didn’t work out. The website for Ameribest is now a defunct “404.” With the drop in oil prices, maybe it wasn’t the best time for such a venture?
Back in Los Angeles, Alfreddie is wearing his clerical collar again. We’ll be interested to see what ventures he gets going now that he’s back in town.
As for Chief Beck showing up at an event held in a Scientology facility, we’re never surprised to see LAPD Senior Command Officers at Scientology events. This doesn’t mean that Chief Beck endorses Scientology. He’s been chief since 2009, but we don’t really know how close he’s going to get to Scientology leader David Miscavige.
For years, Miscavige had a reliable friend in the other top cop in town, Sheriff Lee Baca, who seemed more than happy to help out Scientology with parade appearances and glowing statements about the church. And now, he’s facing prison time for corruption charges unrelated to Scientology.
Federal Judge Percy Anderson recently tossed out the plea deal Baca had worked out with prosecutors that would have given him six months of incarceration. Anderson said the penalty was too light. Now, Baca has to decide whether to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial, or work out a longer sentence with prosecutors that the judge would accept. Baca’s attorney claims that the former sheriff is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
None of Baca’s options look particularly good. And his long association with Scientology doesn’t look like it’s going to help him out in this situation.
Perhaps Chief Beck might take a lesson from that.
— Jeffrey Augustine
And here’s Chris Shelton with some lessons he learned from Scientology…
Thanks very much, Jeffrey and Chris!
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Narconon in Hungary exposed
Thanks to Peter Bonyai for sending over this well-done local TV report on a Narconon in Hungary. (English subtitles are available.)
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 21, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
