On the 12th of April 2008, a local group of anti-Scientology protesters gathered on corners adjacent to the Church of Scientology's 15th & "I" Street location. The group, known as "Anonymous", arrived for the 11 a.m. protest over about an hours time beginning fifteen minutes before the top of the hour.
Anonymous, a loosely-knit group of individuals who communicate with each other mainly through the Internet, as part of their intention to "destroy Scientology" have a central message they wish to get across for each protest. The theme of the April event was "reconnect", a reference to a supposed Scientology practice in which members are told to disconnect with family members and friends who disagree with the church's policies.
Over the course of the day several dozen Anons, as they refer to themselves, showed up to protest. They were greeted by several large vehicles parked along the street bordering the main sidewalk thoroughfare Scientologists use to go to and fro the main entrance and the parking lot. These included a very large motorhome, two panel trucks and a trailer. One of the panel trucks foreshadowed a future event, the anti-psychiatry exhibit that would take place a few wakes later at Sacramento Scientology's nearly $5 million facility.
The protesters were only allowed access to the three corners surrounding the Scientology premises, but were barred from the storefront directly in front of the Scientology compound. I am not a fan of protesting or subscribing to opinions I have not created myself, so naturally I was not part of this protest. I arrived and promptly spoke to the off-duty police officers Scientology hired, likely to keep the protesters in line.
The reason Anonymous protests Scientology stems from the deletion of a video on the Youtube video website. The video in question starred perhaps the most well known Scientologist, actor Tom Cruise. Apparently the video was a promotional video to be seen in Scientology branches. Mr. Cruise was speaking about how much Scientology has changed his life and made him a better person, and how defectors and people who speak illy of Scientology, known as SPs for Suppressive Persons, will be something found only in history books. Scientology, known for its strict enforcement of its copyrights, ordered Youtube remove the video from their website. Youtube, a Google company, obliged.
Anonymous, perhaps disturbed by the reach of Scientology's legal team, soon announced their war against the organization.
No walking.
Bumper sticker voicing Scientology's anti-psychiatry viewpoint. Note the Scientology "S" logo to the left of the license plate. Seconds after snapping this photo a man emerged from the rear exit and shooed me away.
This man showed up with a very nice camera to record video.
A view from the vantage point of the protesters' main corner.
And a view from the opposite corner.
This photo was taken once more people had arrived.
Different view of the previous.
Two corners and a police car.
"Serious business" refers to an Internet joke of the same name.
Once the crowd got bigger.
A few Scientologists yacking about subjects unknown.
This panda is another reference to an Internet joke.
The Scientologists had to feed the parking meters every few hours on account of them using up every single parking spot on one side of their building.
Members of Anonymous do not want to be photographed and identified, fearing the use of "Fair Game". Fair Game is allegedly a doctrine put forth by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, that states any member of Scientology can use any means necessary to silence the views of the opponents of Scientologists. This is why they wear masks.
Aerial photo taken from a nearby parking garage. The building on the left is the Scientology HQ, with Memorial Auditorium being renovated across the street.
Scientology's van, as seen from the parking lot.
More Scientology members coming and going.
This woman arrived with a child by her side...
...and quickly departed, childless.
This truck probably contained the supplies that eventually ended up being part of the anti-psychiatry exhibit
The de facto leader of the protest speaking to the police who Scientology hired to keep the peace.
Another panda joke.
Local Scientology bigwig Mike speaking to the hired police officers.
The barricade of vehicles used to hide Scientology members from view of the protesters.