Guest guest Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 Foster Farms Cruelty Leafleting Report: Cops, Costco & Concord Our experiences today (and yesterday) are worth sharing. We have been leafleting at various Costco Clubs for the past month around Northern California without incident. However, when we arrived today at noon (with only leaflets in hand -- no signs), an activist and I were greeted with an interesting crew (approx. 4 police officers, 3 seasoned Costco employees & 2 security guards). Immediately, these folks circled us and starting videotaping. One of the individuals (an obese undercover officer) asked us: " Are you with E.B.A.A? " I responded with: " Are you the guy who called yesterday? " Then, he handed us informational sheets -- detailing why we are not allowed to be there. In California suburban-girl fashion, I rolled eyes, walked away and uttered, " Whatever. " Rewinding to yesterday: I received a call from an extremely eager & slightly pretentious gentleman (who wanted to leaflet today), asking quite a few questions. He said he was from Arcadia -- planning to come to the Bay Area to visit family in Berkeley. His phone number was (925) 250-6692. Through a web search, I discovered that this was a Concord-based phone number. After leaving the main entrance of the Costco today, we were followed by an officer. He was very interested in obtaining my LPN. I rolled my eyes, once again, and left the Costco parking lot. Thereafter, I placed a call to (925) 250-6692. Surprisingly, the Concord gentleman picked up the incoming call. I asked who he was and why did he call me yesterday. Then, he said, " Uh, I didn't call you. " I hung up. For your information, Christine www.fosterfacts.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 I'm so curious. Have you been able to find that they are right, in reading what they gave you? Are you legally not able to hand out leaflets? 4 police officers seems nuts. If THEY were not on legal grounds, they have some answering to do. If you are in the right, and they are illegaling using police officers, then you shouldn't walk away. And then there's always civil disobedience. Even if you are breaking the law to tell people, I say, be willing to go to jail because what they are doing is wrong, just make sure you get the most mileage out of it. Have a TV reporter there with a camera filming the arrest- use it to get the word out. Scary idea I know. My guess is that you can legally leaflet, but not on their property. It seems clearly a free speech thing, as long as it is public property, or the private property of someone who agrees to let you. A couple of things I wanted to comment on about your story of events of the last couple of days, as an outside observer: Cell phone numbers from areas other than where the person currently resides is becoming very common, may not mean anything. Someone may have given you a number not their own, maybe you called back someone else, not the guy from the day before. Did you actually recognize the voice as the same guy? And of course they're going to try to stop you. Infiltrating for information would be a great idea, if I were them. But expect that. Don't let it ruffle you, just expect that kind of thing. They're trying to save their bottom line and may even do some illegal things if they think they can get away with it. Then it would be good to catch them at that, but so far they might not have done anything criminal. Although, I would really find out if they can stop you from leafletting, and if they are simply using intimidation instead of the law. Then get a TV camera..... And if the law supports them, time to change the law. I am not a protester. It's not on my list of things to do, but I strongly support your right to disperse information. Make sure it's all true, or you could be charged with slander, I believe. You should be able to say anything that's true, and anything that is your " belief/opinion " without fear. Good luck in your work, Margi Days in Berkeley PS. Have you seen the huge (like 2 story) blow up rat in front of Berkeley Honda? It's amazing, and it's been there for a really long time. It has a big red " no " icon on top of the name Berkeley Honda on its belly. It would have come down long ago if it weren't legal. They must be renting public property, the sidewalk in Berkeley, from the city. It might be worth finding out who erected that rat, and what they have discovered about the law regarding free speech. - <christine <baarn >; Saturday, February 04, 2006 5:46 PM The Fear of Leaflet Paper-cuts... > Foster Farms Cruelty Leafleting Report: Cops, Costco & Concord > > Our experiences today (and yesterday) are worth sharing. We have been > leafleting at various Costco Clubs for the past month around Northern > California without incident. However, when we arrived today at noon > (with only leaflets in hand -- no signs), an activist and I were > greeted with an interesting crew (approx. 4 police officers, 3 seasoned > Costco employees & 2 security guards). Immediately, these folks circled > us and starting videotaping. One of the individuals (an obese > undercover officer) asked us: " Are you with E.B.A.A? " I responded with: > " Are you the guy who called yesterday? " Then, he handed us > informational sheets -- detailing why we are not allowed to be there. > In California suburban-girl fashion, I rolled eyes, walked away and > uttered, " Whatever. " > > Rewinding to yesterday: I received a call from an extremely eager & > slightly pretentious gentleman (who wanted to leaflet today), asking > quite a few questions. He said he was from Arcadia -- planning to come > to the Bay Area to visit family in Berkeley. His phone number was (925) > 250-6692. Through a web search, I discovered that this was a > Concord-based phone number. > > After leaving the main entrance of the Costco today, we were followed by > an officer. He was very interested in obtaining my LPN. I rolled my > eyes, once again, and left the Costco parking lot. Thereafter, I placed > a call to (925) 250-6692. Surprisingly, the Concord gentleman picked up > the incoming call. I asked who he was and why did he call me yesterday. > Then, he said, " Uh, I didn't call you. " I hung up. > > For your information, > Christine > www.fosterfacts.net > > > > ____ > BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a non-profit 501 ©(3) community organization for veggies to network, find support and promote veg*nism. > > Events Calendar - http://bayareaveg.org/events > Newsletter - http://bayareaveg.org/news > Veg Mentor Program - http://bayareaveg.org/mentor > Ultimate Guide - http://bayareaveg.org/ug > Veg Food Finder - http://bayareaveg.org/finder > Charter & Post Guidelines - http://bayareaveg.org/charter > Compassionate Living Program - http://bayareaveg.org/cl > Map It Veg - http://www.frappr.com/baveg > ____ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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