Originally posted at WhyWeProtest.net:
This news was too good to sit around and wait for yummydumpling to post it
(P.S. -- this is not an April Fools joke).
Go get those clams, Aussie Anons!!!
Today, Melbourne Anonymous organised a 9 to 9 raid, keeping the doors of Scientology locked down tight all day.
The police were called many times for things we weren't doing; constantly claiming we were 'blocking the door ways' (1. the front door was locked and covered in blinds, and we stood at least a meter away from it at all times. 2. The backdoor we left clear for people but still stood near as well)
One police officer told me that it's fine (and legal) to take photos of the people leaving the building when they leave, but just to be careful. So I took this in stride and kept going on with my photography.
Towards the end of the protest, when the Scientologists left the building, I did the usual thing I do as a photographer with the protests and stood near the back entrance while the front entrance was guarded by other anons with camera phones ready to take photos of anyone trying to sneak out away from me.
I took photos of the people leaving, and upon the second person I was able to get a photo of leaving he stormed towards me and punched me in the face (camera still up to my face) breaking the camera.
I went after him as he tried to walk away demanding he tell me who he was and why he did it, and then tried to run up to him and stop him. He headbutted me which threw me to the ground into the street where a car was coming (almost got run over)
Two witnesses who were simply walking by on the way to the football ran after him yelling at him telling him what he did was totally uncalled for and a stupid thing to do, spouting "what's your problem?" to him.
I got back up and kept walking towards the assailant who started to run away down the street and into an alleyway. I called for our protester Epic to come help me. He ran with a picksign in his hand still and managed to not only catch up to him, but stop him by tripping him up a bit (didn't fall) and then grabbing him.
I ran up to him and took the guy's glasses to make sure he would stay put, and demanded he tell me who he was. He ignored me and tried to get away, but the aoichan and the two witnesses ran up and we all surrounded him.
Aoichan and I performed a citizens arrest on the attacker and managed to keep him there until police arrived (who I had just called) as we waited though, the Scientologists there began to accuse us of being "payed" to protest, that we're harassing them by protesting "their religion" (saying its illegal to protest a religion) and us of being cowards (for wearing masks) [even though I don't wear a mask]
The attacker wouldn't make eye contact with anyone, barely spoke a word, and his expression was priceless. He knew he had performed an epic fail.
Another Scientologist kept trying to remove him from us, and get him "Back to the church"
The police took our details, and took the attacker back to the station in their cop car for questioning.
I sat down for a bit and spoke to a Scientologist who was friends with him, who while being friendly claimed that all the things we hear about Scientology are "lies"
I let the church know we get information from within occasionally, and this they did not seem happy about 'what so ever'D *dance*
Sibbo and I walked to the police station and waited to give a statement. At this point the lady I talked to earlier walked in and asked to see "her friend" (the person who attacked me) and I overheard her saying to the police that she had to "give him some advice" from the Church. THEY REFUSED!She complained.
I went to the hospital to get checked up. Everything is in motion.
The guy has been charged for 3 separate things that I know of, and will be summoned to Court.![]()
This news was too good to sit around and wait for yummydumpling to post it
(P.S. -- this is not an April Fools joke). Go get those clams, Aussie Anons!!!
