Group protests Scientology
'Anonymous' gathers in Georgia, agrues with Church's beliefs
Sean Gruber
Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
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Twenty years later, she's giving a speech under an assumed name to a group of protesters wearing suits, surgical masks and sunglasses. Through the years, her purpose hasn't changed - she just wants her friend back.
"I would ask him, if they had all the answers, why aren't they just giving them away," Anne said as she spoke to the assembled group. "He would get angry, angry to the point that he was on the edge of violence."
Anne said this was when she became a public critic of Scientology.
"He told me that he could be my friend if [I] stopped my criticizing. I told him I just couldn't turn around around and shut up, she said. "My letter of disconnection arrived a week later."
Anne would never talk to her friend again.
"I'm saying this in the hopes that you'll hear this, even though I don't think you will," Anne said. "I just want you to come back."
Anne was one of the 200 protesters that gathered in front of the Church of Scientology in DeKalb County, just outside Atlanta.
The protest centered around Scientology's policy of "disconnection," where Scientologists are separated from family members and friends that are critical or distrustful of the church.
The protest was organized by the Internet based group "Anonymous," which originated on several message boards and chat rooms.
Most of the protesters, fearing harassment from Scientologists, wore masks, face paint and wigs to disguise themselves, and referred to themselves with nicknames.
The Church of Scientology branded "Anonymous" a "cyber terrorist" group and has described the protests as "religious bigotry." The Church of Scientology was founded in 1953 by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author. The group has been declared unconstitutional in Germany.
Protesters dispute these claims, saying that their protests have been peaceful and that they have no problem with the belief system, but with the church's practices.
Amy Camp, a fourth-year criminal justice student at USC, attended the protests with a small group of USC students.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Lord Xenu
posted 4/14/08 @ 3:03 PM EST
Do you guys have any idea how much it costs to keep evil alien souls imprisioned on your plantet?! A whole shitload, that's how much. And yet you have the nerve to complain about the cost of salvation. (Continued…)
Cptn Yaaargblat 5th Marcabian Battle Fleet
posted 4/14/08 @ 7:02 PM EST
All hail Lord Xenu!
Ann Hiro
posted 4/14/08 @ 7:53 PM EST
"The Church of Scientology would not comment."
Oh, why not? Are they too afraid that people will have problems trying to wade through their lies?
Keep it up Anonymous! I want to be able to walk through Clearwater again without being followed by the cultists!
David Mudkips
posted 4/14/08 @ 8:59 PM EST
It's really easy to hear what these protesters are saying, and dismiss it as "crazy." No church would ever be involved in tearing families apart or massive criminal undertakings, right? We'd have heard of all this by now -- surely. (Continued…)
Marc Abian
posted 4/14/08 @ 9:15 PM EST
Well done for reporting on this, Daily Gamecock. It's true that Anonymous doesn't protest what people choose to believe--that's up to the individual to work out. (Continued…)
Jacob Jacobsen
posted 4/14/08 @ 9:48 PM EST
wow, finally an article that speaks great justice! I had gotten so tired of seeing the local media slandering our name as "hackers on steroids" and labeling us an "internet hate group". (Continued…)
Student
posted 4/14/08 @ 9:59 PM EST
L. Ron Hubbard said it himself:
"The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than win.
The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause professional decease. (Continued…)
Antigone
Antigone
posted 4/15/08 @ 2:48 AM EST
Thank you for covering this story!!!
Eric Bauman
posted 4/15/08 @ 1:39 PM EST
You guys have a major called "sports"?
The Internet
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:52 AM EST
4chan nerds.
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