Last year, the quarantining of Scientology’s private cruise ship the Freewinds for a case of measles had reporters scrambling to find out how the organization felt about vaccinations. Was the outbreak on the ship a sign that Scientology was part of the dumb anti-vaxx hysteria becoming so depressingly epidemic in this country?
We wrote a story about that, pointing out that although Scientology itself had no prohibitions against vaccines, L. Ron Hubbard’s withering criticisms of western medicine had produced a legacy of paranoia in the church and a membership that tended to embrace conspiracy theories about medicine and medical providers.
In other words, Scientologists tend to be Alex Jones-style conspiracy advocates and anti-vaxx promoters. And last year, we pointed out that the church itself was increasingly getting involved in anti-vaxx advocacy, and with strange results: Scientology’s DC lobbyist, Greg Mitchell, was quoted in a New York Times story offering his help and support to Ultra-Orthodox Jews in upstate New York fighting vaccinations; OT 8 Lucy Cole brought anti-vaxx propaganda to the Nation of Islam, which former Scientology executive Amy Scobee told us would not be happening without Scientology leader David Miscavige’s approval; and there was the slightly comical forming of the “Conscience Coalition,” a political advocacy group made up largely of Scientologists, including Mitchell.
The Conscience Coalition’s first big mission was to attempt to derail California’s SB 276, a bill intended to limit exemptions to childhood vaccinations.
It was also a battle that produced a new anti-vaxx star, a “human rights lawyer” named Leigh Dundas.
Dundas got lots of coverage during the battle over SB 276, and was usually cited as the attorney for “Advocates for Physicians’ Rights,” as if it were doctors who were objecting to making sure kids got their vaccinations. She got to testify briefly to the state assembly’s health committee in June, but her biggest publicity success was a September “press conference” she held on the steps of the state capitol after the bill had passed in both houses of the legislature. Dundas called on the US Department of Justice to investigate the background of the bill, alleging a criminal conspiracy. (See an interesting refutation of her claims here.) Despite her showy speech, the bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom a few days later.
Curiously, what none of the coverage of Dundas last year mentioned was that she’s been a Scientologist for at least a decade. She went Clear in 2010, and eight years ago she was beginning her OT levels, according to Scientology’s own publications.
Meanwhile, the chief financial officer of “Advocates for Physicians’ Rights” is OT 7 Lori Prescott, a Tustin chiropractor and WISE Hubbard promoter.
So Dundas is a Scientologist attorney fronting for a Scientologist-founded anti-vaxx front group, and she got some pretty sweet press last year during the SB 276 fight.
But that was just a warm-up.
In what must be thrilling for Scientology leader David Miscavige to watch, Leigh Dundas has suddenly become a star in the California protests over re-opening during the pandemic.
Polls consistently show that the vast majority of Americans support the lockdowns across the country as a method for suppressing coronavirus infections, but noisy protests over re-opening states have grabbed a lot of media attention, and they often feature protesters who refuse to wear masks or who call the pandemic a hoax and who subscribe to various debunked conspiracies about Dr. Anthony Fauci or Bill Gates or 5G wifi.
Dundas, who has promoted 5G fears at her Facebook page, is quickly becoming a star in a movement that loves a “human rights lawyer” who is willing to say that being asked to wear a mask for public heath reasons is a violation of constitutional rights.
While the protests often feature characters fitting the crackpot stereotype, Dundas projects the opposite: a fiery lawyer on a righteous cause.
And she’s a natural, with a smart sense for presentation and style. At an April 19 protest in Orange County, Golden Gate Xpress photographer Saylor Nedelman snapped the image above and it was named the publication’s Photo of the Day (and you can certainly see why).
On May 1, a protest took place in Huntington Beach, and Dundas dramatically appeared for her rally speech standing in a boat…
Dundas got a nice mention in the Los Angeles Times…
Leigh Dundas, a human rights lawyer from Los Angeles, stood in an American flag-covered speedboat parked on the street, railing against the closure of Orange County beaches.
“What’s going on at this point is unconstitutional,” Dundas said.
“Freedom!” shouted people around her.
Then this weekend she showed up at a big rally in Sacramento at the California capitol, and Alfreddie Johnson was also on hand!
See, she’s really in her element.
We look forward to seeing just how much she’ll rise in the reopen movement, and whether David Miscavige can somehow cash in on her success. What do you think? Is this a win for Scientology?
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Meanwhile, at Facebook…
This comment was left yesterday regarding the Chris Owen story about L. Ron Hubbard’s wartime ‘stolen valor,’ and we felt compelled to share it with you here…
And…we worshiped him. He could do no wrong. He said that we would clear the planet, save mankind, eliminate ills. Instead, we helped him create penal colonies. We were treated aas slaves and punished and shamed. And when we finally escaped we were labeld ‘suppressive’ and attacked, threatened and harassed. Now we see that it was all a lie. All. And they STILL insist that WE are the suppressives. And our very own government caved to their intimidation and awarded the tax-exempt status so that they can build ‘temples’ to themselves that are empty instead of using monies that actually HELPS PEOPLE around the world.
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“Time is a temperature. I don’t know what that temperature is in Kelvin, but now that I know that time is a temperature, I can find it. And the moment I find the exact temperature, I could make any area, at any given instant, timeless or speed its time up. I know that sounds very strange. But this is a great discovery in physics. Only you know about it, but it is a great discovery in physics. It’s rather a staggerer. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 26, 1961
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“I think that Scientologist women make very bad lovers. They can not enjoy sex freely. I think that Scientologist women make very bad wives. They put Ron before their husbands. I think Scientologist women make very bad mothers. Too many have shown to be willing to kill their own children if somebody in a position of authority in the Church of Scientology orders them to do so. It would be better if the same way that Scientology states clearly that it does not encompass the eighth dynamic, it also would clearly state that it does not address, handle, or encompass sex and sexual relationships.”
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“The ultimate goal of Hubbard’s bridge was to take all your money and then turn you into a slave once your money was gone. And if you did have enough money to make it all the way up the Bridge, the EP was hopefully insanity or suicide so you couldn’t sue Hubbard’s ass for fraud or spill the beans.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing was set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for October 7 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] What California’s controversial new confessions bill means for Scientology
[TWO years ago] Karen Pressley on the madness of Sea Org life: ‘I no longer belonged to my dreams’
[THREE years ago] L. Ron Hubbard was no Bill Shakespeare, but here’s some of his early playwriting anyway
[FOUR years ago] What you didn’t see on ‘I Am Cait’: Kate Bornstein and Caitlyn Jenner at Scientology HQ
[FIVE years ago] Scientology denied: Karen de la Carriere stops a takedown attempt on videos at her channel
[SIX years ago] The David Miscavige summons, and other dire news for Scientology’s drug rehab network
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Has Your Back!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,949 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,453 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,973 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 993 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 884 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,191 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,059 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,833 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,607 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,953 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,519 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,438 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,606 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,187 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,448 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,486 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,199 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,724 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,254 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,814 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,954 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,274 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,129 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,249 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,604 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,907 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,013 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,415 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,287 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,870 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,365 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,619 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,728 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 26, 2020 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | Shelly Miscavige, 14 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 | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
