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IP: Re: Florida police reportedly harass anti-MS Linux protestes
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 10:12:49 -0400
Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 12:39:21 +1000 From: Nathan Cochrane <ncochrane () theage fairfax com au> To: farber () cis upenn edu Subject: Re: IP: Florida police reportedly harass anti-MS Linux protestes Hi Dave I used to live right around the corner from there a few years ago when a friend of mine owned a local nightclub. To my Australian eyes it was bizarre to see uniformed police officers working for contract for the Scientologists to direct traffic. There were always big traffic snarls on the road outside when church was in session. I have since learned that these were so-called "rent-a-cops"; cops by day funded by the taxpayer and security guards in their off-hours, but still able to wear the Blues. It makes the "thin blue line" a very blurry blue stripe. I have since observed the practice in other places on my visits to the US, including San Jose where the local police earn a handy living directing convention centre goers across the road near the Tech Centre and hotel. I wonder what rights people have in this situation? Could they sue the local county (Pinellas, from memory) for the actions of its off duty cops in denying free speech advocates? The cops are, after all, contracting with the consent of the county and wearing the uniform. But then again, in the South they burn votes and churches, and its legal to conceal carry, so I don't expect software protesters will get much joy. I like the "Church of Open Source" idea though. I should start saying my "ommms". cheers Nathan David Farber wrote:Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 06:59:30 -0400 From: robin <robin () roblimo com> To: declan () well com Subject: Clearwater Allows Scientology, not Linux, Evangelism Dear Declan and Politechnics: Last week, across the street from the Church of Scientology's Sandcastle Center in Clearwater, Florida, Microsoft representatives harassed members of a local Linux Users Group [LUG] who were handing out CDs containing free software in front of the city-owned Haborview Convention Center. With the aid of Harborview security guards, they forced this seditious activity to stop. "You can't pass out free software here," was the phrase a number of LUG members specifically recall hearing from Microsoft staffers and convention center security guards. My NewsForge colleague Tina Gasperson wrote this lighthearted story about the event: http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/06/01/1540231 Microsoft was holding an Office XP "rollout" seminar in the convention center, and perhaps they felt that, as paying exhibitors, this gave them the right to stifle free expression (and free software) not only inside the building but in the open air nearby. But the Suncoast Linux Users Group was a legitimate exhibitor at the Computer and Technology Showcase being held on a separate floor of the convention center at the same time. Apparently none of the LUG members thought of saying, "No, we're not going to leave. This is public property, and we have as much right to pass out literature and software here as anyone else, especially since most of us live here and are, therefore, part-owners of this facility." When confronted by uniformed security personnel they left quietly and returnd to their display booth inside, which got far more visitors than the Microsoft booth a few hundred feet away despite having a decidedly amateur, "thrown together" appearance. Meanwhile, Church of Scientology members were handing out fliers on nearby city-owned beaches, as they apparently do every day, unmolested by security guards or police. It's amusing, really, to think that Scientologists are allowed to spread their material and philosophy freely in Clearwater while Linux advocates are not allowed to do the same thing, at least while Microsoft is in town. The Church of Scientology has a history of calling for security and police assistance whenever anyone demonstrates against them, no matter how peacefully, near their Clearwater buildings. Apparently Microsoft marketing people are following in Scientology's footsteps by trying to quash those who publically speak out against their practices. Is it possible that Microsoft has been infiltrated by Scientologists? Could Bill Gates be a secret member? Or has Microsoft developed an internal culture so cultlike that it acts like an obnoxious religious cult without realizing it, not only internally, but in the way it deals with the outside world and any perceived competitors? Scientology did not start out as a religion. It became one to shield its activities from prying eyes, especially those of government. Could this be Microsoft's ultimate defense against antitrust actions and all other government regulations: to become a religion? - Robin 'Roblimo' Miller Editor in Chief, http://osdn.com (publishers of Slashdot, freshmeat, NewsForge, and other fine Web sites) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. 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