Operation Reconnect in Sacramento

Last Saturday, I attended a protest organized against Scientology's policy of disconnection. While smaller than the March 15 protest, Operation Reconnect was far better prepared for and produced evidence of Anonymous's effect on the CoS.

Having obtained permits for two corners instead of one, we proceeded to set up shop. A free "stress test" was set up along with a table for cake, a boom box hooked up to one of the protesters' ipod, and piles and piles of fliers. A female anon had dressed up like a pirate and was received quite well by many passersby, especially bikers. Another anon saw fit to wear a giant panda suit while holding a sign that said "Scientology makes me a sad panda."

The public showed a great deal of support as passing drivers honked and pedestrians stopped for fliers. The police arrived in greater numbers and appeared much more friendly and cooperative than the few that oversaw Operation Party Hard. At one point, I tried to take a picture of the Scientology building up close but was stopped by a pliceman who told me that because I was holding my sign under my elbow, I couldn't go there and proceeded to explain how I could legally dissasociate my actions from the protest. If this were Atlanta, I probably would have been allowed to pass without any warning and then beaten down and dragged into the building.

Of course, the real highlight of the demonstration was the activity of the CoS. Right off the bat, the CoS proved just how threatening they believed our protest to be by completely blocking our view of the entrance with trucks and other vehicles. Apparently, the CoS had made some kind of deal with the city so that they did not have to feed the meter and could park their little mobile wall in red zones.

Later, it a pedestrian informed us of a Scientologist who was handing out DVDs (how much money do your members have to pay for you to replace fliers with DVDs) at the other end of the street. A small group was dispatched to follow the Scientologist around and hand out fliers to everyone he had encountered. The man kept walking away from the anons, perhaps hoping that they would give up.

Around 4:00, when many demonstrators began to leave, a protester began passing out invitations to a ball that wasbeing hosted by the CoS to raise money to attack Anonymous. No one seemed particularly worried that this would actually achieve something but there was still some talk of anons attending the fund raiser.

The next protest will be on May 10 and has been dubbed Operation Fair Play. The focus of the protest will be Scientology's fair game policy. In Sacramento, we have already begun preparations by donating money to Ghost (who is in charge of getting our permits and possibly a second megaphone) and discussions on enturbulation.org. Next time, there will ice cream.