Visited by Rastas III

Understand that, by "day 1180" I mean January 26,1970. The pivotal date in this story. Since our move to Divisadero St, in the late autumn '67 we (myself, my family and those who, in one way or another,over time, to various extents and in numerous ways, contributed to the direction and function of what we then called MUF'N) well we saw ourselves as secular humanitarians, more interested in helping our neighbors than in having daily dollar deluges. But we didn't have to chase money. Early-on we realized so much in the way of donations (of foods,clothing,household goods, re-cyclable materials,money. Even, over the years, a few cars)making it possibile to offer our goods and services free of charge. without any "donations accepted" signs.
By 01.26.70 we'd been doing our thing at "D"st. for a little more than two years. We enjoyed relationships of mutual respect and admiration with many of our neighbors and very nearly no problems of any weight. We had, however done nothing (actually I had done nothing) to forge some kind of good relationship with any of the police working in our neighborhood and that probably accounts for the trouble we had on 01.26.70, at least for the way in which it played out.
That evening our oldest daughter was celebrating her 10th birthday.
There was so much traffic in and out of the house that the police were able to enter without requesting entry, simply by walking in behind a group of invited guests. We were informed that we were suspected of harboring two fugitives,who were accused of leaving home at age 14 without permission.
I don't know why the officers didn't come by in the daytime, knock on the door,ask about the persons they sought and ultimately leave with their prisoners. Actually, their method of entry wouldn't had raised so much ire itself. It was the way they spoke to us with out respect or decency,their rough treatment of their "fugitives" and their threats to charge us with harboring fugitives if they again found such at our place. Thru it all a warrant was not produced (and I failed to ask for one). The situation was more like a drug raid than a visit by police investigating a missing persons report.
The next evening, we held a all members meeting to deal with the situation. Long story shortened: One among us, a law student at Cal offered that a church CAN harbor fugitives legally. another said he had seen an ad offering regular individuals a way to form their own church for whatever purpose was dear to them.Within a couple of weeks our group had established ourselves as Universal Life Church#6054 the Gates of Eden Congregation. This move ultimately brought us to the attention of the Rastas.