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Scientology critic Mark Bunker arrested at Scientology compound

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Wednesday February 25, 2009

Cult does not want protesters near its lair

Glosslip sources revealed well-known anti-Scientology critic Mark Bunker was arrested along with another critic, Mark Lowell at the Scientology’s Hemet, California compound known as Gold Base.
Bunker, was there to speak at meeting by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to discuss issues related to protests taking place at the Hemet Scientology facility. Video of today’s meeting can be seen here, including what Mark described as a “revealing links between Chairman Jeff Stone and close affiliations with the Church of Scientology.
After the meeting, Mark and a group of protestors, including members of Anonymous who posted about the arrest at WhyWeProtest.net, headed to Gold Base for a previously scheduled protest. Gold Base is the main headquarters for Scientology’s secret sect the Sea Organization. The Sea Org consists of the most devout members, who are forced to sign the infamous “billion year contract”, and work at the secluded compound, often for only room and board. Glosslip has detailed some of the horrors and atrocities which have occurred within the Sea Org, including slave labor, forced abortions and physical violence.
Glosslip was able to contact Mark Bunker shortly after he was arrested and processed for trespassing. Mark gave us the exclusive details on what led to the arrest of he and fellow protestor Mark Lowell.
[...full story at Glosslip.com...]

- Source: Breaking News: Arrests Made At Scientology’s Guarded Desert Compound, Including Renowned Critic Mark Bunker, Glosslip.com, Feb. 24, 2009 — Summarized by Religion News Blog

Two protesters arrested, cited outside Church of Scientology compound

Two protesters were arrested on suspicion of blocking the driveway to the Church of Scientology‘s compound near Hemet during a small demonstration following Riverside County’s board of supervisors meeting Tuesday.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Mark Bunker and Douglas Owens shortly before 2 p.m., releasing them later with citations for trespassing, said Lt. Patricia Knudson. They did so after church members made citizens’ arrests, she said.
Knudson said church members and deputies observed protesters blocking the entrance to the large compound along Gilman Springs Road in Gilman Hot Springs. But protesters say they were neither trespassing nor blocking the entryway.
The arrests followed a supervisors meeting in Riverside in which protesters and church members debated a proposed anti-picketing ordinance that the church supports. The proposed ordinance would ban pickets within 30 feet of any targeted residences, including dormitories at the Scientology compound.
Demonstrators say they are protesting because the church abuses members at the base, charges the church says are lies.
Bunker said five protesters walked in front of the property, crossing the driveway at times, which the law permits, he said. Deputies parked their car in the driveway of the Scientology base and arrested Owens, he said. Bunker said when he then photographed deputies, they arrested him.

- Source: Two protesters arrested, cited outside Church of Scientology compound, Julia Glick, Press Enterprise, Feb. 24, 2009