IP: Re: Florida police reportedly harass anti-MS Linux protestes

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> 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)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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