Internet Users Rally Globally To Protest Church of Scientology Policies
(St. Louis, MO February 2nd) On February 10th, 2008, anonymous web users worldwide will gather outside their local Church of Scientology centers in an attempt to bring wider recognition of some of the organization's actions, tactics, and behaviors. The Church is alleged to have been involved in highly aggressive actions - legal and illegal - towards critics, the press, and those who attempt to leave the Church. Because of the strong backlash against critics in particular, most protesters are likely to attempt to hide their identity with masks, sunglasses, makeup, etc.
The movement, known as "Anonymous" or "Legion," appears to lack any central authority or organizing party. Potential activists communicate using a variety of online chat clients and online forums, maintaining the lack of individual identity from which the movement finds its name. Though the group was initially composed of hackers implementing Distributed Denial of Service attacks to crash Scientology-owned websites, the content of these communications indicates a more law-abiding approach as of late. "Suddenly, spontaneously, a movement has arisen," says one user on the forums at one information and planning site, Enturbulation.org. "It has no leaders. It has no authorities. This movement is self directed by each member's own moral compass, and every individual walks in the same direction because that compass points to what is right"
The Church of Scientology is no stranger to controversy. In 1976, author Paulette Cooper became the target of Operation Freakout when the organization authorized individuals acting from what the Church now calls the Office of Special Affairs (OSA) to harass and intimidate Cooper. Associated with the release of her latest book's criticisms of Scientology, acts included disseminating personal information, death threats, and at one point a bomb threat was faked by an agent impersonating Cooper. Later that decade, the Church attempted to infiltrate United States Government agencies like the IRS with over 5,000 covert agents - eleven executives from the higher levels of the church's hierarchy pled guilty or were found guilty for their part in the move, which the Church referred to as Operation Snow White. In 1991, the Church's legal team charged Time Magazine with libel in response to an article critical of the Church. All charges were eventually dropped. Finally, the Church has been widely implicated in the wrongful deaths of several former members, including Lisa McPherson and Noah Lottick - critics point to their Disconnection Policy, targeting anyone attempting to exit the Church with similar tactics of harassment.
Before the Anonymous attacks on Scientology, several websites bringing light to Scientology's actions built momentum. One of the more prominent of these sites is XenuTV.com, operated by Emmy-winning journalist Mark Bunker. In one of his well-known demonstrations, viewable on the video-sharing site YouTube, Bunker is surrounded by three Scientologists, who begin shouting provocations such as "Did you finish beating your wife before you came here?" Other online efforts also include Operation Clambake (www.Xenu.net), known for its forums frequented by Scientologists who have abandoned the religion, as well as "Free Zoners," those who practice outside the boundaries of the Church. A reference to the nickname given to Scientologists living aboard one of the organization's many cruise ships in international waters, Clambake offers those trying to leave the Church a support network in order to smoothly and safely transition back into society at large.
The demonstrations are set to take place at 10:30 AM (local time), February 10th, at Scientology centers worldwide.
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For more information, visit Xenu.net or Enturbulation.org.
(St. Louis, MO February 2nd) On February 10th, 2008, anonymous web users worldwide will gather outside their local Church of Scientology centers in an attempt to bring wider recognition of some of the organization's actions, tactics, and behaviors. The Church is alleged to have been involved in highly aggressive actions - legal and illegal - towards critics, the press, and those who attempt to leave the Church. Because of the strong backlash against critics in particular, most protesters are likely to attempt to hide their identity with masks, sunglasses, makeup, etc.
The movement, known as "Anonymous" or "Legion," appears to lack any central authority or organizing party. Potential activists communicate using a variety of online chat clients and online forums, maintaining the lack of individual identity from which the movement finds its name. Though the group was initially composed of hackers implementing Distributed Denial of Service attacks to crash Scientology-owned websites, the content of these communications indicates a more law-abiding approach as of late. "Suddenly, spontaneously, a movement has arisen," says one user on the forums at one information and planning site, Enturbulation.org. "It has no leaders. It has no authorities. This movement is self directed by each member's own moral compass, and every individual walks in the same direction because that compass points to what is right"
The Church of Scientology is no stranger to controversy. In 1976, author Paulette Cooper became the target of Operation Freakout when the organization authorized individuals acting from what the Church now calls the Office of Special Affairs (OSA) to harass and intimidate Cooper. Associated with the release of her latest book's criticisms of Scientology, acts included disseminating personal information, death threats, and at one point a bomb threat was faked by an agent impersonating Cooper. Later that decade, the Church attempted to infiltrate United States Government agencies like the IRS with over 5,000 covert agents - eleven executives from the higher levels of the church's hierarchy pled guilty or were found guilty for their part in the move, which the Church referred to as Operation Snow White. In 1991, the Church's legal team charged Time Magazine with libel in response to an article critical of the Church. All charges were eventually dropped. Finally, the Church has been widely implicated in the wrongful deaths of several former members, including Lisa McPherson and Noah Lottick - critics point to their Disconnection Policy, targeting anyone attempting to exit the Church with similar tactics of harassment.
Before the Anonymous attacks on Scientology, several websites bringing light to Scientology's actions built momentum. One of the more prominent of these sites is XenuTV.com, operated by Emmy-winning journalist Mark Bunker. In one of his well-known demonstrations, viewable on the video-sharing site YouTube, Bunker is surrounded by three Scientologists, who begin shouting provocations such as "Did you finish beating your wife before you came here?" Other online efforts also include Operation Clambake (www.Xenu.net), known for its forums frequented by Scientologists who have abandoned the religion, as well as "Free Zoners," those who practice outside the boundaries of the Church. A reference to the nickname given to Scientologists living aboard one of the organization's many cruise ships in international waters, Clambake offers those trying to leave the Church a support network in order to smoothly and safely transition back into society at large.
The demonstrations are set to take place at 10:30 AM (local time), February 10th, at Scientology centers worldwide.
###
For more information, visit Xenu.net or Enturbulation.org.
