Victoria Palmer’s organized protest to “restore Scientology” took place yesterday, and we were fortunate that an Underground Bunker reader was there to record the occasion.
We think that as small as this protest was, it was still pretty historic as far as the annals of Scientology go, and we think Palmer was a lot of fun to watch. She’s clearly very sincere about trying to “restore” Scientology to what founder L. Ron Hubbard intended, and we figure it took some real guts to march right down L. Ron Hubbard Way accusing Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige of covering up crimes.
From the very beginning, in the early 1950s, there have always been adherents of L. Ron Hubbard’s “technology” who broke away from his official movement to practice his ideas on their own.
These independent Scientologists, or Freezoners, have come and gone, with an occasional attempt to organize actual brick-and-mortar churches of their own. (There’s the former Haifa mission that thrives there under former Church of Scientology members Dani and Tami Lemberger, for example.)
But we told Victoria Palmer that we don’t recall independent Scientologists attempting what she did: A direct protest of the Church of Scientology and its leader David Miscavige by practicing Freezoners at Scientology’s Los Angeles headquarters, known as ‘Pacific Area Command’ to Scientologists, and ‘Big Blue’ to the public.
“I decided that it was time for us to unite and stand for the truth about Scientology,” she told us.
Conspicuous by their absence were any Scientologists on the street at L. Ron Hubbard Way, which was probably intentional. They were probably kept indoors to make sure they didn’t get exposed to the protest.
But Palmer and her crew gamely pressed on, and we’re interested in your thoughts about how they did.
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Technology Cocktail
“There are only five pieces of research I have not myself done in Scientology. One is the effect of vitamins on mental response, done by a New York nurse for us. One is the effect of restimulation on IQ, which I proposed and Don Rogers carried out. One is the basic meter made by Mathison after a lecture by myself. One is the actual circuit of the modern transistor meter done by Don Breeding. And one is the following, which is enormously important because there’s a mistake in it. In England, around 1957, the “mains meter” made by HASI London used aluminium electrodes, small pipes about an inch in diameter. I challenged their use. We used only soup cans on the 1957 American meter. I turned a test project over to the electronics department in D.C. and eventually they reported to me: ‘There is no difference of meter response of any kind in using the thin aluminium
tubes and American soup cans.'” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1961
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman
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“Do you know that absolutely standard tech, complete, proper, hair line standard tech, used in organizations throughout the world, will at least triple the stats of each within 90 days? Couldn’t help it. And if it was really applied in a business-like fashion, and nobody messed it up in any way, shape, or form, one of our Division 5 people said we might even be able to take the planet within a year. It is hot.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 24, 1968
“SORE ARM: ‘They take this spike, see, and they stab you and then fill you up with germs, see, and when your arm recovers then you find out it has to all be done again. And then you can go into any cholera area and not kick the bucket. And you don’t get quarantined and you can go to warm ports and not have to freeze to death all winter. So that’s why you get a sore arm.’ At least that’s how it was all explained to me.” — The Commodore September 24, 1970
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“As far back as the Egyptian hyrogliphs they called what we know as OT today ‘the advanced spirit being’. On the other side of the coin, Scripture, before its polluted version which exists today, refers to this as sorcery. Scientology is simply the practice of Crowleyan/Satanic sorcery. Thus, we see today its implosion thru all its offshoots, Scientologists at war with one another and the love that LRH talks about in What is Greatness is non existent. In general what we are seeing on Earth, among all its religions and philosophies are simply diluted versions of Egyptian sorcery.”
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2001: Scientology critic and refugee in Canada, Keith Henson reported receiving a threatening phone call this week. “Gregg was reading mail when the phone rang. It was either the third threat against him or the first one against me, take your choice. The caller said ‘We’ll get you, you interfering son of a bitch.’ Calling *69 got a most interesting result. It returned (twice) 905-632-4956 which when called says the number is out of service.”
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“How many Scientologists are left in the world who would stand up and say ‘I’m proud to be a Scientologist!’”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, first hearing set for Dec 4.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7. Next hearing set for Sept 26.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing Nov 6.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] PODCAST: Mark Bunker on Scientology’s sabotage of progress in Clearwater
[TWO years ago] Scientology OT 8 and ‘STAND’ blogger who expressed anti-vax views dies of Covid
[THREE years ago] VALERIE HANEY SEEKS WRIT: Victims’ rights groups show support, Scientology cries bigotry
[FOUR years ago] Another national census is in, and Scientology comes in at a mighty 0.007 percent!
[FIVE years ago] A Scientology enforcer dies, and one of his former victims is the only one to eulogize him
[SIX years ago] Scientology got plenty of photo ops out of hurricanes in Texas and Florida. But did it help?
[SEVEN years ago] Flirt with Scientology, and its dogged letter writers will hound you forever
[EIGHT years ago] We’re live and on the air today in Minneapolis, and Scientology is the fat we’re chewing
[NINE years ago] Rathbun v. Scientology: Another appeals court hearing, this time with everything on the line
[TEN years ago] JASON BEGHE ON LEAH REMINI: She’s Right, Scientology Does Want Her to Fail
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Dropkick: Commenters of the Week!
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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 3,162 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,677 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,227 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,217 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,098 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,402 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,273 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,378 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,825 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,167 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,733 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,652 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,819 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,401 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,662 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,698 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,414 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,978 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,293 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,468 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,019 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,150 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,488 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,343 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,462 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,818 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,121 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,227 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,625 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,501 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,066 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,579 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,833 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,942 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 24, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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, 15 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
