'Anonymous' takes anti-Scientology to the streets

"Anonymous" now has a bunch of faces to go without its name. The loosely bound group of net activists who've got a beef with the Church of Scientology showed up Sunday at the church's largest Los Angeles' locations. The protests were part of a global day of demonstrations against Scientology. Hordes of masked, costumed (and mostly young) picketers showed up in Boston, New York, Toronto, the U.K., Australia and a dozen other locations (thanks wikinews).

Many of the Los Angeles picketers wore the Guy Fawkes masks made popular in the movie "V for Vendetta," and it seemed like every other person was recording the event with a digital camera, camcorder or cellphone.

The protests were peaceful and colorful, with music and chanting (often: "Religion is free -- No Pay Per View" -- a reference to an alleged tiered system whereby the religion's adherents must pay money to gain spiritual clarity).  A near constant stream of horn honks provided the background noise as cars passed the Scientology center on Sunset Boulevard and continued as the mob moved to the so-called Celebrity Center on Hollywood Boulevard.  At least one ambulance and several fire department vehicles honked as they passed.

Security personnel, some wielding video cameras, were stationed at every entrance to the Sunset Boulevard center.  Most wore impassive expressions and, when spoken to (or in some cases, danced with) by rollicking protesters, would betray no more than the wryest of grins.

Protesters were quick to hand leaflets to any cars that slowed or stopped for red lights -- and many drivers freely accepted them.

"Ask a Christian about the Bible; you will be answered," read one leaflet.  "Ask a Scientologist about their text: You will be answered -- after your check clears."

A Fawkes-masked spokesman for Anonymous, who wouldn't give his name but whom several protesters identified as the organizer of the L.A. event, explained one of the group's concrete goals.

"We want set off a government investigation into how they got tax-exempt status," said the man, who said he was in his early 20s.

Scientology was granted the tax-exempt status in 1993 after a protracted battle with the IRS, which for 25 years had maintained that Scientology was a business and not a religion.

When contacted for a comment on the protests, a Scientology spokesperson issued a statement that read, in part: "'Anonymous' is a group of cyber-terrorists who hide their identities behind masks and computer anonymity" and it "is perpetrating religious hate crimes against Churches of Scientology and individual Scientologists for no reason other than religious bigotry." The statement did not mention the Sunday protests.

The protesters Sunday looked mostly young, white and computer-oriented -- few had anything like a serious tan -- but among the group were other more established anti-Scientogy elements, such as investigative journalist Mark Ebner, Mark Bunker from Xenu TV, and several people who identified themselves as former Scientologists.

Asked to explain the sudden groundswell of opposition to Scientology, Lynn Fountain Campbell, who said she'd been part of the church for 40 years, said, "It's just reached a critical mass. People just aren't scared anymore." 

"They try to make people shut up," Campbell added, "and I'm not the shutting up type."

Comments

[Sweet Parade watcher]

Shweet! kick 'em where it counts, tee hee

[YouMayCallMeAnonymous]

Exellent report. I hope more realize our peaceful nature in the future.

[knowledge_is_free]

Today is a great day. It's wonderful to see these young adults united for a common and worthy goal. Don't stop here. It's time for the government to investigate and reconsider this cult's tax exempt status.

[David]

The entire globe has stood together and said no to the evil cult that is Scientology, we won't let you get away with your evil tactics any longer.

[Anongineer]

It's about time people in the world stood up to this business. Watch the BBC Panorama on Scientology, and you will see just how radical it gets. Hopefully, with Scientology's recent exposure in the media, people will think twice before they allow themselves to be roped into such a cult. It's shocking that people who know that L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer can believe that he was inspired to write Dianetics by 'looking inside himself.' That's quite the euphimism for 'making it all up.'

[Alan]

if religion should be free what about all the tithes that have been paid to churches for hundreds of years? Let's go back to buying Indulgences to wipe your sins from the catholic church?

Let's face it, organized religion relies on the wages of it's members to survive. Scientology isn't any different than any of the others

[Josh Geller]

You know, if you are a Mormon, you tithe (give ten percent of your income to the church every year). The church sends an accountant over to help you do this. On the other hand, you do get access to the impressive Mormon social welfare system, if you need it, and if you don't have any money you get a pass. Also there don't seem to be huge numbers of disgruntled Mormons, you meet one or two.

I have a hard time deciding where to come down on this one. So far I have always come down on the side of freedom of religion for the Scientologists and freedom of speech on the side of the activists.

As far as the secrecy stuff, lots of groups have secret stuff. The Freemasons for instance.

I personally would never join the Scientologists.

.

[Xenu]

Congratulations, Scientology: you have succeeded in making these nerds look well-adjusted and rational.

This, in the end, may be the most damning point they have raised against you.

It's gonna take a lot of E-meter $essions for you to get over this . . .

[Jpk]

I do not think any religious groups should have tax exemptions. Scientology seems no more exploitive than many "acceptable" religions.

(The difference between a religion and a cult - 100 years!)

[Lucy]

Live and let live. This is ridiculous, hateful and akin to a witch hunt. If as much effort were to go into something of value, say feeding the hungry, helping street people, helping refugees, promoting peace...well, there would probably be peace. I don't believe the Church of Scientology has hurt anyone any more than any other religion has perverted the minds of men. Those "masked people" are no more than a version of KKK. Leave the Scientologists alone and put your energies into something POSITIVE.

[CLEARWATER FL]

ANTI SCIENTOLOGISTS ARE HERE :)

[Tripon]

There's another protest being planned on 03/15. Get your masks ready, and bring the popcorn.

[Hubert]

@ Alan

Tithing is different, in that you are still saved whether you pay or not.

And indulgences? This is a discussion about CoS in the present day, not about what a religion did over a hundred years ago.

Some CoS promoters won't discuss their organization, but often steer away from CoS or even attack the questioner.

[myxyx]

It is my understanding that scientology does not believe in any spirits at all.It seems like the sanest religion to me.A world that lives in reality is a sane world.

[anon1523]

Okay. So everyone pretty much realized that this was one big excuse for a costume party for computer-addicted pot heads with a serious paranoia against something they don't understand right? I say, if you are really bold, have everyone remove the stupid looking costumes and come up with a better argument than a bunch of allegations with little to no non-made-up backing.

Scientology is idiotic, but this whole 'project chanology' crap is turning into a hate crime waiting to happen.

I thought "The Wave" was required reading in grade school. Though, if you're stoned, I see why it would have a limited impact.

It's morons vs. morons. We can only hope they destroy each other's legitimacy. With Scientology and web-nazi biggots out of the way, hopefully we can get back to well thought out attacks on stupid things.

Oh yeah, and that whole "we are many, we are legion" crap. Quoting biblical demons doesn't count as an intelligent slogan.

Go back to your fake moon landing conspiracy theories.

[Dan]

Tithes aren't required just to find out or even learn about Christ. Believers and those saved SHOULD tithe to whatever ministry (Church) they attend, listen to, or receive guidance from. It is not REQUIRED. Christianity does not have a LLC, CORP or other such blanket company for tax purposes. Neither do any of the eastern, or Judaic, or even explicitly satanic "religions". Credit is due to you for knowing what tithing is though. Here's your "pat on the back". ;)

Knowledge should be free, because the price we pay is the responsibility that comes with all knowledge learned.

[Osakachris]

Uh, Alan? No one has been able to buy indulgences since 1567 in the Catholic Church. Tithes are also voluntary. If you never gave a penny to the the Church, you would still be welcomed with open arms. This is the point of contention with the "religion" of scientology - that you MUST pay, regularly and for specific "spiritual" services if you want to be a member or receive salvation. The only apparent way to reach a high standing in scientology is to give a great deal of money. Hence, it is seen as a religion of extortion by many.

Yes, most organized religions have issues with corruption and abuses of power somewhere in their history, but does that make it okay? I think people have the right to look critically at any group that wields power.

[David Miscarraige]

This is not about the religious beliefs of scientologists. We do not intend to interfere with the daily life and beliefs of normal scientologists, they are free to believe whatever they wish to. This is about the gross crimes against humanity which scientology has committed, the silencing of critics, the ruthless attacks against those who would dare speak out, as is apparent in "Operation Freakout", the mandatory costs incurred by members, and the gross disregard for human liberty as seen in the CoS Sea Org and the RPF (Rehabilitiation Project Force) which enforces slave-labor like conditions on those it deems in need of "Rehabilitation."

This organization exhibits the classic signs of an organization bent on world domination, as made apparent by its gross disregard for human life and liberties, its intent on silencing or destroying critics (see: Fair Game policy, Mark Bunker, Operation Freakout). It's infiltration of governments to destroy evidence against it and gain evidence against critics (see: Operation Snow White) and its very manner of speaking in inter-personnel documents. Honestly, what peaceful religion creates "Secret Operations" which are to be carried out against enemies.

And tithes are different from Scientology's costs. Tithes are suggested donations to help support your church, and in nearly EVERY church, are completely optional, and are not prerequisites for anything, but rather donations for the church as a whole. Scientology operates its "donations" like a business. If you want to reach a certain level you MUST pay this much. It is not a matter of suggesting donations, it is much more similar to setting a cost for an item in a business. This is how Scientology operates, not as a religious organization, but as a business.

[Cloak and Dagger]

Hopefully this is just the beginng of something. Keep in mind that this phenom started with a realatively small group of talented cybers and grew very quickly, evolving beyond a specific click, hooking professional and poor alike. I personally witnessed demonstrators of various ages and ethnic backgrounds and found no one I feared as a "terrorist", cyber or otherwise.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE. Let freedom and truth ring.
-Cloak and Dagger-

[Anon]

The main difference between most other religions and $cientology is that $cientology is not a religion. $cientology is a money-making pyramid scheme, which indulges in criminal actions of suppression towards those who criticize it, and even unlawfully imprisons dissenters within the organization.
It's interesting that a parallel was drawn between $cientology and Freemasonry, as while Freemasonry is not a religion, $cientology is based off of the same structural organization that Freemasonry is.
L. Ron Hubbard was an acquaintance with Jack Parsons, a rocket scientist who was a member of a sex magic cult called the Ordo Templi Orientis. After joining Parsons in his magical workings, Hubbard ran off with a good deal of Parson's money, as well as his girlfriend and founded $cientology by directly applying the ideas he had stolen from the OTO to his invented cosmology.
Hubbard was also a member of the Ancient Mystical Order of Rosae Crucis, and was involved in a lawsuit directed at him from them in which they claimed that he had stolen material from their monographs and implemented in in $cientology; i.e. copyright infringement (which, ironically, is $cientology's favored tool for removing content from the internet which they find offensive).

Our campaign against $cientology has nothing to do with religious persecution. It concerns civil liberties. Scientology tries to suppress any criticism or dissenting opinion. The -only- reason it got tax exempt status in the first place was because conducted blackmail operations on high level members of the IRS in 1993, and this by no means is the full extent of their misdeeds. Today was Lisa McPherson's birthday. If you don't know who she was, just enter her name on Google and you'll find out just how evil $cientology really is.

[Remember Lisa McPherson]

That's right, OSA. Keep up with your hate-filled propaganda, in a vain eleventh-hour attempt to lick your wounds. Your troll comments are futile; your tactics of lies and misinformation are hardly going to harm or stop the masses of Anonymous who are more than ready, willing, and able to stand and fight your corruption and indecency. Smear campaigns are useless against those who are informed of your tactics. You are nothing more than a vampire, and us the wakening daylight with which you shall be vanquished.

We told you to expect us. And to that we hold true.

Anonymous delivers.

We do not forgive. We do not forget.

[JAS]

I just don't get it. If something is important to me I am not ashamed. By wearing these masks they are saying, "We are not willing to be held accountable for our opinions or our actions." Grow some balls! This is America in 2008. If people can spend hundreds of dollars on "medical" marijuana and fancy pipes to smoke it in, or owning 10 gas guzzling vechiles just be "cooler" than the next guy... Let our fellow man have the freedom of choice of religion. Persecution in Los Angeles? This is La La Land!! If people can't be whoever they want without hurting others here... then I've been grossly mistaken about my hometown. This makes me sick to my stomach. When we're done with the Scientologists who should we go after next? How about people who spend thousands of dollars on dogs. They must be crazy!

[jazon]

To my way of thinking scientology is a cult that preys on the weak minded and is one big scam. I'd say more but I think that about sums it up.

[rick]

They should waste their time on something that matters. Nobody cares about scientology. I guess its better the kids are out of the house rather than shooting up their schools, or wasting their lives playing world of warcraft.

[anonymous]

If you do not bother to read about what Scientology has done, can do and will continue to do to its members and critics, I have no patience for you. Your passive type are the same people who let monsters into power, who let people take away their freedoms for the sake of being slightly less scared (but when the leaders who abuse the freedom know, they will keep you scared).

Co$ dogs its critics into submission, with litigation and harassment: verbal, emotional, financial and physical. This isn't a witch hunt, we aren't burning anyone. We want people to know what the Church of Scientology, as an organisation, is doing.

The inhuman monsters are the people who will use the Fair Game tactics to silence the SPs and the ones who don't bother finding out why Scientology is a threat to our freedoms that apparently some of us take for granted.

When you have Anonymous telling you what should be obvious, what should be done, what should be KNOWN, you have a problem.