Church of Scientology International Vice President Attends Special Briefing by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge

Church of Scientology International Vice President Janet Weiland and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, in Los Angeles today after Secretary Ridge’s special briefing to law enforcement, government and religious leaders.

April 24, 2003 — Church of Scientology International Vice President Janet Weiland, who heads the Scientology Disaster Response Team worldwide, was among the guests invited to a special briefing in Los Angeles today by United States Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge. After visiting potential terrorist targets in Southern California, Secretary Ridge spoke at the downtown L.A. Ahmanson Theatre.

California Governor Gray Davis introduced Secretary Ridge.

“California is a microcosm of what America looks like, and we have an enormously complex challenge ahead of us,” Ridge said. He then listed federal homeland security appropriations that will benefit local communities.

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge spoke to Members of the U.S. Congress from California, Governor Gray Davis, the mayor of Los Angeles and police and fire department officials about federal assistance to California in preventing terrorism.

In addition to representatives of major religions in Los Angeles, including Scientology, attending were U.S. Congress members from California Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jane Harman, Diane Watson and Christopher Cox; Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chair Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke and Supervisors Zev Yaroslavksy and Michael Antonovich; L.A. Mayor James Hahn, L.A. Police Chief William Bratton; and officials of L.A. County Fire Department and emergency management agencies.

Both Secretary Ridge and the director of Homeland Security for California, Greg Vinson, were briefed by Ms. Weiland on the Scientology Volunteer Minister Disaster Response Team activities.