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February 10, 2008
Photo Essay: 'Anonymous' Protest Church of Scientology in Hollywood
'V' ran amok through the streets of Hollywood today as hundreds of picketers descended on the Church of Scientology complex at Sunset and L. Ron Hubbard Way. | All photos by Tony Pierce
The global day of action was initially announced last month after a video attributed to "Anonymous" coincided with an online effort that managed to temporarily knock out Internet servers belonging to the Church of Scientology.
Another speech by "Anonymous" appeared this weekend in the form of a video press release. Masked protesters responded in great numbers -- this time in real life -- with picket signs in Los Angeles and cities worldwide.
February 10th was chosen specifically because it marks the birthday of Lisa McPherson, who died of a pulmonary embolism in 1995 under the care of a branch of the Church of Scientology.
This tragedy and the ensuing indictments, trials, and settlements emboldened the nascent anti-Scientology movement which today was heard from -- on the streets and in the media -- louder than ever.
'V' for Vendetta masks had already sold out by midweek across the Southland. That didn't stop these creative masketeers.
The CoS is watching... hence the masks
All Photos by Tony Pierce, used under Creative Commons license.
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hippies with far too much free time.
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These are smart, brave kids. They are doing the right thing - I am proud of them. I'd have been there too, but I am afraid that Scientology will kill me.
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[GRENDEL20] "Hippies with far too much time..."? I suppose rather than utilizing their privelege to assemble peacefully and demonstrate for a cause in which they believe, they should be wandering around on the Internet, reading randomly selected articles of no interest or relation to them, then commenting on them with their uneducated perspective.
Get out of your pajamas. Be up to something.
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When their main cause is just to assail someone else religion.
Let's just all have marches against judaism, christianity and islam while we're at it. Or, no, wait, we only target minority religions, right?
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What are we arguing about? TWO great things about the US...
1. Freedom of Religion
2. Freedom of Speech (see also, privilege to assemble)
DocORock, be careful throwing around the team "uneducated" when you are misspelling stuff. You BOTH have good points.
That's what makes this country great (and a bit of an oxymoron).
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Yeah, except for the fact that no one is protesting their religion or their right to believe in it. The protests are about the crimes against humanity and the trampling on the first amendment that the organization of $cientology has engaged in.
Check out http://www.briansapient.com/YTMND/Scientology1.gif
for a brief rundown, or just do some research and look into L. Ron Hubbard and the formation of the Church.
Stay informed. Don't let them fool you with their BS religious persecution nonsense. They file frivolous lawsuits against and harass anyone that denounces them to keep their brainwashing and extortion of the poor people they are able to manipulate into joining from ever reaching the public eye.
And sadly, as you've shown here, they're succeeding.
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More photos and audio from yesterday's demonstration are available here:
http://www.doxaweb.com/blog/2008/02/anonymous-holds-successful-peaceful.htm
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Scientology is NOT a religion. It is a sham cover for money and power grabbers. A religion does not charge for its help. In Scientology, you don't pay, you don't play.
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Dictionary.com:
re·li·gion
–noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Scientology covers all of these things in one way or another. There are better things you can do with $10 million (that would actually benefit society), but it's their money to throw around however they choose.
I know several people that practice Christianity and pay dues to go to their churches.
Freedom of speech is necessary, but religious intolerance is just plain disappointing.
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After they conquer the Scientologist maybe they can go after something really terrible like puppies that pee or kittens that hiss. Oh my what brave protesters.
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I have to admit, that whole Xenu-frozen-alien-volcano-deposit thing is a tad bit on the humorous side.
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I don't know what the problem is. Let the Scientologist believe what they want.
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I've blogged about Anonymous, and also attended their February 10 protest in Los Angeles.
Their mantra, which includes the line "we do not forgive", could stand improvement, but overall, I have to say I'm impressed.
http://www.doxaweb.com/blog/2008...ul- peaceful.htm
I wasn't sure what to expect, but the protest was peaceful. Mostly Gen Y folks -- 18 to 24 -- with a lot of idealism, and good hearts.
Only 1 Scientologist showed up at the protest... Billy Sheehan, who used to play bass for David Lee Roth. Billy and I had an interesting, cordial discussion, which has been captured in my audio podcast.
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Sorry, the link to my blog post is:
http://www.doxaweb.com/blog/2008/02/anonymous-holds-successful-peaceful.htm
Also: Emoney, Scientology doesn't really fit the definition of a religion, as there is no revelation of a divine person to humanity in this organization. There is only the fiction of L Ron Hubbard, who decided to create the religion in response to a wager with a friend.
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Funny that,some idiots around the world consider Atheism as a religion ???.Now what am I supposed to do ???.
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Well, like most of the activists they are not attacking scientology, but they are attacking the Church of Scientology, which is an organization that has been committing crimes ever since it was started.
Some of them are attacking scientology as a religion, which is not what they are supposed to be doing. People still have freedom of religion, but they can't be breaking the law at all. That is why the church is bad, not scientology itself.