FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANONYMOUS PROTESTS THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY’S POLICY OF “DISCONNECTING” FAMILIES
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. APRIL 8, 2008 -
Thousands of anonymous citizens in hundreds of cities world-wide will take to the streets at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, April 12th in a peaceful protest to launch “Operation Reconnect”. Operation Reconnect is an initiative designed to bring together families who have been torn apart and injured by the Church of Scientology’s Disconnection Policy. The Internet collective known as Anonymous, and its associates in the Project Chanology will gather before Scientology organizations around the world for the third time in as many months to educate the public about Scientology’s practice of Disconnection. The Disconnection Policy isolates Scientologists by requiring them to stop all communication with family members or friends who are critical of Scientology[1]. This protest is also an attempt to let those still inside Scientology know that they are missed and loved by their families and friends, who want them to return home.
The Anonymous Movement has become a widespread and unprecedented initiative that is free of leadership and has become a cultural phenomenon. Known for their Guy Fawkes masks, suits, and party-like protests Anonymous has been widely featured in print, broadcast and internet media. Anonymous has been called a “Cyber Vigilante Group” by The Toronto Sun[2], “Internet Activists” by The Economist[3], and “…the latest thorn in Scientology’s side” by Newsweek[4]. Despite worldwide non-violent protests by 7,500 people on Feb. 10th and more than 10,000 on March 15th, the Church of Scientology insists upon calling Anonymous “cyberterrorists [...] reminiscent of Al Qaeda spreading anti-American hatred and calling for U.S. destruction.”[5]
Citizens of the world are invited to join the Anonymous protests. Where permitted by law, facial covering is recommended for anyone participating in demonstrations. Disguise serves as a defense against the Organization of Scientology’s long and well-documented history of silencing critics by means of intimidation and persecution, legal and otherwise. Despite having taken precautions to preserve their anonymity, many protesters have reported that they have been followed, harassed, and intimidated after previous protests. Three protesters were arrested on false charges claimed by Scientology.
About Anonymous:
From former Scientologists and longtime cult activists, to college students and corporate professionals, Anonymous is comprised of concerned citizens from all walks of life who believe personal identity is irrelevant to the discussion of ideas. Anonymous has launched previous campaigns against various White Supremacy entities, and played a major role in the capture of Canadian pedophile Chris Forcand[6]. In January 2008 Anonymous declared war on the Church of Scientology, citing its illegal and outrageous acts throughout the whole half a century of its existence. This war is now waged through the infiltration and dissection of the Scientology Organization, and the education of the general public about its true nature, abuses and crimes.
References:
[1] http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/aebf0e44ba294906
[2] http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2007/12/07/4712438-sun.html
[3] http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10609174
[4] http://www.newsweek.com/id/109410
[5] http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-scientology3mar03,0,7615291,full.story
[6] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHohvluf3mc
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SCIENTOLOGY’S ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE ANONYMOUS WITH LITIGATION, HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION FAIL TO PREVENT ANONYMOUS PROTEST WORLDWIDE
March 18th 2008 - The worldwide Anonymous protests against the corruption and abuses of the Church of Scientology held on Saturday, March 15th have been a glorious success [1]. Attendance was estimated to be well into five figures. This was achieved despite numerous attempts by the “Church” to harass and intimidate demonstrators into silence. The “stats” for Anonymous are up, with major leaks from inside the Church revealing activities that are not permitted of a tax-exempt religious organization. Documents leaked included 208 scanned pages relating to the Church of Scientology’s former “Office of Special Affairs” employee and subsequent apostate Frank Oliver [2]. These “Black Operations” documents are dated between 1986 and 1992 (inclusive) when, according to the file, Frank Oliver was declared a “suppressive person” and excommunicated.
When criticizing a totalitarian, mafia-like organization such as the Church of Scientology, it is only to be expected that one will encounter extreme and nefarious methods as the organization attempts to intimidate, harass and silence. This harassment began as a petition for injunction delivered to the Florida courts. This petition named over 40 individuals, including some curious onlookers and staff from local shops, and sought to keep them 500 ft away from Church property. This ludicrous petition was struck down twice by the courts.
Five demonstrators have also been named in videos posted on the official Church of Scientology channel “AnonymousFacts” [3]. This lead to a suspension of the channel from youtube, as it broke terms of service by posting personal information. One individual named in the videos posted by “AnonymousFacts” was served with an arrest warrant for Code 422 Criminal Threats on the morning of the March 15th protest. After being interviewed by the LAPD Major Case Squad, he was released on $50,000 bail. A court date was set for April 9th, 2008, 8:30am in Division 30 at the courthouse located at 210 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012[4].
This is only one of many cases where critics have been publicly identified by the Church and targeted using the legal system, then subjected to other intimidation and harassment. These tactics have become synonymous with the Church’s notorious “Fair Game” policy, and have recently been expanded to include having lawyers send threatening letters to the parents of members of Anonymous[5a, 5b]. All these examples show that the Church of Scientology will not only pervert the legal system, but will not hesitate to use illegal and clandestine methods to silence and intimidate their critics in order to suppress free speech.
The Church of Scientology has also released a DVD that was submitted as evidence with its petitions for an injunction. This disk is entitled “Anonymous Hate Crimes”[6]. Here, the “Church” accuses Anonymous of mailing white powder to their offices, posting a video onto youtube threatening to execute Heber Jentzsch, President of the Church of Scientology, and threatening to bomb Scientology churches around the world. The mailings of white powder had already been dismissed by authorities as having no connection to Anonymous [7]. Curiously, the video threatening an execution of Jentzsch and the bombing of churches appears on the DVD in far higher a resolution than could be achieved from a small and heavily compressed video downloaded from YouTube.com[8]. This suggests that the DVD was authored using higher quality source material than was available on youtube, and that the “execution and bomb threat video” was produced by the Church of Scientology themselves[9]. Such a finding is not entirely surprising, as the Church had previously gone to similar lengths in attempts to silence critics [10][11].
References:
Full Anonymous Report of Recent Activities in Project Chanology [Ides of March Edition]
Download PDF : [http://img1.anonbw.com/press/postidesreport.pdf]
Download this Press Release in PDF Format :
http://img1.anonbw.com/press/postidespressrelease.pdf
Anonymous - Project Chanology Information:
http://www.WhyWeProtest.net
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Chanology
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FLORIDA COURT DENIES PETITION FROM THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ANONYMOUS
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. March 12, 2008 . Facing the second worldwide protest in as many months, the Church of Scientology and its associates in Clearwater (Florida) have petitioned for a restraining order against a nameless, faceless group of peaceful protesters. A cover sheet and a civil complaint were .led, and the case docket [1] is available online. The injunction was titled “Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence” and is available to download in PDF form from the St. Petersburg Times [2]. Today, that petition was denied.
The petition was submitted by Roger Akiyama and Paul Kellerhals (oficials of the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization) with Rev Heber Jentzsch - the President of the Church of Scientology International. The document is considered a sworn statement, but contains evidence whose origin and context is heavily disputed. One member of Anonymous was of the opinion that “It is clear from this statement that high ranking of.cials within the Church of Scientology are prepared to perjure themselves in order to silence their critics”.
If passed, this injunction would have violated both the Florida and US Constitution. Analysts said that the attempted restraining order was unlikely to be accepted by a judge because of overwhelming Federal and State precedents. For example, Talley v. California (Supreme Court, 1960, case 362) struck down a Los Angeles city ordinance that made it a crime to distribute anonymous pamphlets. In addition, the Florida Constitution guarantees citizens “the right peaceably to assemble, to instruct their representatives, and to petition for redress of grievances.”
The aggressive legal stance adopted by Church of Scientology is typical of their “fair game” policy [3] as described in a 1967 letter by Church founder and supreme authority L. Ron Hubbard. The policy states that enemies “may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline,” or “tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”. In practice, the policy results in personal and litigious harassment of critics or other enemies of the organization.
A petition for a restraining order in Florida must have the full name, current address and phone number of the person to be served [4]. However, the petition filed by Scientology identifies as its target “an association of people known as Anonymous.” According to the US Constitution, the Federal Government may not pass any laws “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble…” The Fourteenth Amendment applies this prohibition to all State Governments as well.
The Church of Scientology is attempting to suppress the unalienable rights of United States citizens. In this case, the right to peaceful assembly is under attack via subversion of the Constitution through an illegitimate use of public courts. This demonstrates yet again that Church of Scientology leaders do not wish to operate in an environment where free speech is permitted.
The first Anonymous protest on February 10th drew over 9000 people in more than 100 cities across the globe to demonstrate peacefully in front of their local Scientology centers. This was the largest demonstration against the Church of Scientology to date. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the Church of Scientology is once again using strategic nuisance litigation to silence its newest critics.
Linda R Allan, Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County, Florida ruled on March 12th:
“The amended petition for injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence is DENIED WITH PREJUDICE as to the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.” [5]
The ruling denies the petition to the Church of Scientology on the grounds that it can not, as a corporate entity, petition for a restraining order based on Florida statute that is designed to protect individuals from crimes of assault and battery. Individual petitioners were instructed by the Court to re.le petitions separately, and individually, if they so choose, with individual allegations as required by the law. Independent analysis indicates that such .lings can not pass the legal requirements unless associates of the Church name specific persons and actions in their allegations related to Anonymous. Such allegations themselves would have to be contrived or perjurous, as no instance of illegal action by the protesters is known at this time and illegal action is frowned upon by the consensus of Anonymous.
The petitioners identified certain individuals as “leaders” of Anonymous, a statement that is inherently false in its nature. Anonymous does not rely on the promotion of individual persons into positions of power or leadership, and attempts to establish such leadership are immediately and openly rejected by public consensus. This restriction is rooted deeply in the nature of Anonymous. Thus, the concept of leadership can not be applied to the movement except as an artifact of ignorance, a matter of absurd, or a deliberate attempt to misguide an otherwise uninformed person.
A video condemning Anonymous has recently been released on YouTube. Its distinctive style and high production value mark it as originating from Church of Scientology production studios. The video was initially posted on the YouTube channel AnonymousFacts with comments and rating disabled in order to prevent criticism. Entitled “Anonymous - Hate Crimes; Terrorism Directed at Scientology”, it is the latest clear example of Scientology propaganda containing little truth. The video has been mirrored on the channel AnonymousFiction to enable comments and ratings from viewers [6].
In the video posted on YouTube.com, and in the “evidence” submitted to the court on Tuesday the 11th of March - much is made of the “white powder resembling anthrax” which the Church of Scientology call an “act of terrorism” attributed to Anonymous. The LA Times stated that “Authorities said there was no evidence that Wednesday’s mailings were connected (to Anonymous)” [7]. It is not unlikely that the Church of Scientology itself has orchestrated this false act of terrorism. It has attempted to do similar things in the past during “Operation Freakout”, where Scientology operatives planned to silence a critic by making forged bomb threats in her name [8].
The remaining charges made by the petitioners to show their cause rely on statements published online without clear or traceable association with Anonymous, and represent acts of individuals completely unrelated to this collective. Most of the offending videos are believed to have been produced by Church of Scientology itself as a part of its “Black PR” campaign. Such smear tactics appear to be a standard practice of this organization. Despite their harsh accusations and alleged concerns, the petitioners were unable to show any relationship between the perceived threats and the consensus of Anonymous. Furthermore, they have failed to demonstrate any actual relevant acts of violence or endangerment of life, whether or not specifically related to the activities of Anonymous or to those of other individuals.
References:
[1] http://pubtitlet.co.pinellas…us/servlet/civil.docket.KEAD?CS__CASE=08003568CI&CS__RESULTS_ _KNT=10
[2] http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/12/images/Scientologyinjunction.pdf
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology)
[4] http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/449435/how_to_get_a_restraining_order_in_.orida.html
[5] http://www.tampabays10.com/images/pdfs/scientology-anonymous1.pdf
[6] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGEuGsO9cCA
[7] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-threat31jan31,1,6115546.story
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_FreakoutCopy of the restraining order docket:
http://img1.anonbw.com/press/Restraining-Order-Docket.JPGrnrnScientology and the Legal System:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_the_legal_systemrnrnScientology and the Internet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_the_Internet
Project Chanology:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Chanology
http://www.WhyWeProtest.netrnrnDownload this press release in PDF format
http://img1.anonbw.com/press/March12th.pdf
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANONYMOUS PREPARE FOR ANOTHER WORLDWIDE PROTEST AGAINST THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. March 8, 2008 . As Project Chanology continues, thousands of people worldwide will stage a protest on March 15th against the Church of Scientology’s corruption, and abuse of its members and critics. The group Anonymous, will picket at local Church of Scientology centers around the world, beginning at 11 a.m. local time in each respective time zone. Anonymous has been increasing awareness for the cause, whilst simultaneously acquiring and spreading new information about the Church of Scientology obtained from their increasing number of informants within the organization, as part of its campaign to “systematically dismantle the Church of Scientology in it’s present form”.
A number of former Scientology members who had previously been afraid to give their own testimonies for fear of retribution from church officials have joined the movement, and a number of new websites informing the public about Scientology have been launched. Of special note is ExScientologyKids.com[1], known as “ESK” within the critic community. The ESK website is owned and administered by Kendra Wiseman, Astra Woodcraft and Jenna Miscavige-Hill. All three women are former members who grew up in Scientology, and are related to high ranking officials of the Church of Scientology and its associated front-groups. Kendra Wiseman is the daughter of the President of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR)[2], and niece of the President of Narconon[3]. Jenna Miscavige-Hill is the niece of the Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC) David Miscavige, who is generally considered to be the “Leader” of the Church of Scientology.
Both Kendra and Jenna have been “disconnected” by their family since leaving the church. Astra, whose mother is a high-ranking Sea Org[4] member, fled the Sea Org when they insisted she terminate her pregnancy. ESK tells these stories, and the stories of many other former Scientology children. Kendra Wiseman has said that in light of the recent efforts of Anonymous, and because of the efforts of those who have supported her over the last two years while she dealt with her families disconnection from her, she has been made to feel safe in speaking out and now wants to afford the same luxury to others, who may not feel as safe. Douglas Frantz, a former editor at the L.A. Times who has covered Scientology for the New York Times in the 1990s has said “Before this Internet onslaught, they were always able to go after their critics and do a good job of being able to discredit or intimidate them”[5].
The date of the March 15th Protest, referred to as “Operation Party Hard” and “The Ides of March” has been chosen as it falls near a major Scientology holiday, the birthday of Church founder L. Ron Hubbard. The 15th also marks the death of Ellie Perkins, a Scientologist who was killed by her son Jeremy. Jeremy, a sufferer of the disease of schizophrenia was denied Psychiatric drugs, and was instead treated with vitamins and auditing[6]. Anonymous intends to continue its campaign to educate the public about the true nature of the Church of Scientology; with the March 15th protest, and future events such as Operation Reconnect.
Scheduled to take place during April, Operation Reconnect[7] will shine a spotlight on families torn apart by the Church of Scientology. The aim is to bring these families together, with a number of the “disconnected” giving detailed accounts of their experience with Scientology and making public pleas to their families to “reconnect” with them.
On the 15th of March, Anonymous intends to bring “cake, good will and the gift of knowledge.” As usual, Anonymous have contacted and worked with city officials to ensure safe and law-abiding protests. Many protesters will wear masks, scarves and other facial obstructions to protect their identities due to organization.s practice of intimidating and silencing those that speak out against it.
Promotional Videos:
- March 15th - Operation Party Hard - The Ides of March -
- [mp4 format] - http://img1.anonbw.com/press/MARCHPRESS.mp4rnrn- April 12th - Operation Reconnect -
- [wmv format] - http://img1.anonbw.com/press/Reconnect.wmvrnrnAbout Anonymous:
Anonymous is a collective composed of many Internet users, combined under one name. The group have gained influence both on the Internet and in the real world.
Anonymous have launched campaigns against various White Supremacy entities, and played a major role in the capture of Canadian pedophile Chris Forcand.
Anonymous has been referred to as a “Cyber Vigilante Group” by The Toronto Sun[8], “Internet Activists” by The Economist[9], “the latest thorn in Scientology’s side” by Newsweek[10] and “cyber-terrorists…reminiscent of Al Qaeda spreading anti-American hatred and calling for U.S. destruction” by the “Church” of Scientology[5].
References:
Anonymous : Project Chanology Information:
http://www.march15.org
http://www.reconnect.org
http://www.WhyWeProtest.net
http://www.enturbulation.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Chanologyrnrn# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 29, 2008
Reply-To: kendra@exscientologykids.com
In the wake of recent controversy surrounding the Church of Scientology, a new website has been launched to assist its most vulnerable adherents: the kids who were born inside. The website, found at http://www.exscientologykids.com, features the stories of people who have been born into the Church of Scientology and escaped. It also contains a forum geared toward children who are dissatisfied with their life within the organization, information for those who are unfamiliar with Scientology and no-nonsense advice on getting out.
The launch of this website comes at a time when the Church of Scientology is facing increasing criticism from the outside world. The controversy stems from a leaked video of Tom Cruise that appeared on YouTube in which he discussed his views on Scientology. After the Church had it removed from the site by claiming that its appearance there constituted copyright infringement, all hell broke loose for the secretive organization. The controversy moved from the internet into real life on February 10, when a wave of world-wide protests was held against the Church.
In the aftermath of these protests, three young women who escaped Scientology joined together to create exscientologykids.com. The site aims to inform young Scientologists and provide a supportive community for them to freely discuss their experiences within the Organization.
Kendra Wiseman comes from a family of well-connected members of the Church of Scientology. Bruce Wiseman, her father, is the president of Citizens Commission on Human Rights, USA, an organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1969. Clark Carr, her Uncle, is the president of Narconon International. Kendra escaped from the Church of Scientology at the age of 17.
Jenna Miscavige Hill is the niece of David Miscavige, the leader of Scientology. She escaped from the church in 2005 after being raised in the church’s inner circle.
Astra Woodcraft was also born in to the church. She left the organization in 1998 after the Church pressured her to abort her unborn daughter. She was a member of the controversial Sea Organization which has been known to pressure its members in to terminating their pregnancies.
For more information regarding the new website, Kendra Wiseman can be contacted at kendra@exscientologykids.com.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 21, 2008
LOCATION UNSPECIFIED
- Anonymous today announced a campaign to launch government inquiries into the Church of Scientology’s status as a tax exempt organization. Beginning on February 26th and continuing on Tuesdays thereafter, Anonymous plans to coordinate phone calls and letter writing activities directed at their Federal legislators. Similar efforts are planned around the world. The internet-based group made reference to an unconstitutional agreement for tax exemption between the IRS and the Church of Scientology.
“Since 1993, the Church of Scientology has enjoyed favored religious status in violation of the First Amendment. Anonymous aims to draw attention to this violation of our Bill of Rights, and to initiate congressional hearings in to their validity,” said David Mudkip, an American member of Anonymous. “The Church of Scientology’s agreement with the IRS grants the organization tax-exempt religious education, a provision that no other religion in the United States enjoys, including widespread faiths such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam. This makes the Church of Scientology a favored religion, a severe violation of the United States Constitution.”
On October 1, 1993, the Church of Scientology obtained tax exemption from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This ended 26 years of what the Church itself has described as a “war” against the IRS, in which it used extraordinary and in many cases illegal tactics - bugging government offices, stealing mountains of classified files, having private detectives pursue senior government officials, launching thousands of lawsuits, publishing full-page attack adverts in US daily newspapers, and so on.[1]
An essential element of the Church of Scientology campaign for tax exemption was the huge number of lawsuits which its members launched under its orders against the IRS. According to the Church of Scientology’s leader, David Miscavige, at the time of the tax exemption agreement in 1993 there were over 2,500 lawsuits in progress. Though this example is an American one, the Church of Scientology enjoys tax exempt status in other countries outside the United States, including the United Kingdom and Australia.
“On February 10th, Anonymous held a global wave of 108 demonstrations, with over 9000 concerned individuals participating,” said Mudkip. “Having generated global interest in the Church of Scientology’s unethical practices, we encourage the public to contact their government representatives with their concerns regarding this organization.”
rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnThe campaign’s website, still under construction, is located at http://www.coslobby.com
Members of the press may contact dmudkip@gmail.com for further comments.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 11, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we reflect upon the tenth of February, we are pleased to announce that our day of action has been crowned with great success. A wave of demonstrations spearheaded by Anonymous has swept the world. These spanned four continents, occurring in over 90 cities and involving over 7000 individuals in total [1]. However, numbers alone do not assure victory. Equally key to the success of our actions was the character, demeanor and behavior of the demonstrators themselves. By virtue of our peaceful yet unyielding stance, Anonymous has demonstrated to the world - and to the Church of Scientology - the full seriousness of our intentions. In addition to this, we have demonstrated to citizens around the world that in our battle against this abomination we speak in the name of peace, order and good government.
The same could not be said about the Church of Scientology on this day. According to some worrisome reports, three members of the Church had been detained by law enforcement. Attempting to forcibly interfere with our demonstrations, these Church agitators had gone so far as to remove the masks of those who were speaking out against them. At this time, Anonymous would like to thank the members of law enforcement worldwide who stood watch over our events. For helping to maintain peace at the gatherings we had organized and for protecting both the public and ourselves from the more temperamental members of this Church, you have earned our gratitude. Returning to the subject of childish behavior, we view the latest attempt by the Church of Scientology to incite hate against us by conjuring symbols of terrorism, National Socialism and the Ku Klux Klan with a mixture of sadness and disdain. As we have done both online and in our protests, we would like to remind the public, the press and the Church of Scientology that our outrage is directed against the criminal practices of the Church, not against the beliefs of its members.
To those of you who have been dismissing us as little more than young rabble, we hope that today’s wave of demonstration has caused you to reconsider your position regarding our ability to accomplish a serious objective. Our campaign against the Church of Scientology has only just begun. Today has marked our first decisive move. The next event of our campaign is scheduled for March 15. This is the Saturday directly following March 13, a day known to Scientologists as the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard. We, too, wish to celebrate this event, albeit in our own special way. Beware the Ides of March, Church of Scientology!
We are Anonymous.
We do not Forgive.
We do not Forget.
A pleasure to make your acquaintance.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 7, 2008
Ladies and gentlemen of the public and the press,
On February 10th, working in concert with concerned citizens around the world, Anonymous will stage a large number of public demonstrations at Church of Scientology centers around the world. Now that we have made evident the sincerity of our intentions, we would like to take this opportunity to clarify our objectives to the press and to the public. There have been a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding the nature of our means and intentions. Among these is the idea that our declaration of war is intended a threat of physical harm against individuals affiliated with the Church of Scientology.
Allegations that Anonymous wishes to physically harm any human being as part of our campaign against the cult of Scientology are patently untrue. As stated in one of our productions, the intention of Anonymous is to ’systematically dismantle the Church of Scientology in its present form’. Our struggle is directed against the toxic ideals and behavior of the corrupt, violent, and abusive leadership of the Church of Scientology, not against the lives of those who have become entangled with it. Know this: though we oppose all that they stand for, even the highest officers of this cult will not be harmed physically by Anonymous. Our battle is one of ideas. As we speak, it is being fought and won in the hearts and minds of the world’s honest citizenry and their leaders. The ideological nature of our struggle brings us to another common misconception regarding the objectives of Anonymous in this campaign.
Although many of us are put off by L. Ron Hubbard’s religious doctrine, we do not oppose the right of individuals to follow beliefs of their choice. As set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”. Anonymous, as a whole, honors the spirit of this declaration. We fight against the atrocities - not the beliefs - of the brainwashing cult known as the Church of Scientology. The acts of defamation, intimidation and murder perpetrated by this criminal organization galvanize our resolve to fight against it. Our righteous indignation is directed against the hypocrisy of this institution, not against the faith of its members. As an illustrative example of our stance, we would like to draw your attention toward a group of individuals who practice L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings, but have disaffiliated themselves from the Church of Scientology. They are known as the Freezone. Anonymous bears no animosity toward these individuals.
Many of you may wonder how Anonymous plans on launching into the task of dissolving the Church of Scientology. Our first major objective in this endeavor is the revocation of this cult’s tax-exempt status. Indeed, the privileges accorded to the Church of Scientology under the law are significantly more generous than those enjoyed by major religions. As set out by the appellants in Sklar v. Commissioner, training offered through the Church of Scientology is tax deductible, while that obtained through legitimate religious institutions is not. The status of the Church of Scientology as a tax exempt religion is an affront to honest religious organizations. However, its special status with the IRS above and beyond that of other religions is not merely an affront, but a slap in the face.
On several occasions, figures within the media have casually dismissed Anonymous as nothing more than a gaggle of restless youth. We remain entirely undeterred by their remarks. Virtually all age groups, creeds and professions are represented within our ranks. Many who are not affiliated with Anonymous have expressed support for our campaign. Their words serve to further underscore the broad demographic base of our initiative. If you remain doubtful of our strength and resolve, we invite you to observe them for yourselves.
Actions speak louder than words. In the name of those who have been silenced by the false church of Scientology, Anonymous will be heard.
For more information on the upcoming protests visit:
http://harbl.wetfish.net/cosplay/
http://forums.enturbulation.org/index.phprnrnFor more information on why these protests are happening visit:
http://www.xenu.netrn http://whyaretheydead.net
http://www.lisamcpherson.org
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan 27, 2008 – CLEARWATER, Florida - Anonymous commenced another wide-ranging initiative against the Church of Scientology yesterday as part of its larger “War on Scientology” campaign. The new initiative emphasized personal involvement and education. To usher in the new plan, Anonymous introduced a new website intended to distribute information critical of the Church.[1]
In addition, a new video with the same robotic voice and surreal imagery as the original video was released.[2] It indicated that on the tenth of February, Anonymous plans to undertake non-violent, real-world action against the Church at eleven o’clock in each time zone. This is not the first time members of Anonymous have united to physically act against the Church of Scientology. In the past two weeks, Anonymous individuals rallied around Scientology churches, protesting against the organization’s transgressions (most notably their abuse of basic human rights) and informing the general public.
Continuing the efforts of the many people who have sought to expose the Church,[3] Anonymous acquired and compiled a number of “secret” documents and archived them on its new website for public consumption.[4] Statements from Anonymous encouraged both the public at large and Scientologists not privy to this information to peruse it for their own education and benefit. They asserted that the general public equipped with the Church’s own manuals and data would be able to make more informed decisions regarding the ostensible “church.” Anonymous believes many will realize the dichotomy between what the Church of Scientology’s public relations department proliferates and the truth.
Recently, Anonymous caught the attention of news networks such as Fox News,[5] KNBC,[6] and Sky News.[7] Their message spread to popular social media sites, such as Digg,[8] Reddit,[9] and Slashdot.[10] On these appearances, a member of Anonymous was quoted as saying: “There are several misconceptions regarding who we are and why we act in certain ways. We are not merely a small clique of ’super hackers,’ as some portray us, but a collective of individuals from all walks of life.”
The Church of Scientology is a pseudo-religious organization, primarily operating in the U.S., that is often accused of racketeering[11] and fraud.[12] A number of court cases have been filed against the Church of Scientology in its history, including USA vs. Mary Sue Hubbard, where the wife of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was convicted of conspiracy against the government of the United States.[13] The Church has also been implicated in several deaths due to neglect or malice,[14] such as Lisa McPherson’s reported death in the custody of the Church. Controversial policies it espouses include forced abortions[15] and brainwashing.[16] It has historically attempted to silence and harass its opponents, as in Operation Freakout,[17] a church campaign targeting Paulette Cooper,[18] author of The Scandal of Scientology.[19]
About Anonymous:
Anonymous is a leaderless, worldwide group of individuals, activists, hackers, and other participants. Their intention is to dismantle the Church of Scientology. Their attacks are not aimed at individuals, nor Scientology as a system of beliefs, but at a criminal organization that operates under the pretense of a religion.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan 21, 2008 – CLEARWATER, Florida - Anonymous announced their intention to combat the activities of the Church of Scientology on Monday. A spokesperson said that the group’s goals include bringing an end to the financial exploitation of Church members and protecting the right to free speech, a right which they claim was consistently violated by the Church of Scientology in pursuit of its opponents.
This announcement came as a response to attempts by the Church to keep secret an internal video meant to be viewed only by Scientologists, featuring actor Tom Cruise. Despite their efforts, the movie was leaked and rapidly spread across the Internet. The video caused much controversy, and members of Anonymous posted a message to several of their websites proclaiming war against Scientology. Soon after, Anonymous struck at the church; they blocked access to its website, made prank calls, organized protests, distributed anti-Church pamphlets and information, and extracted secret files from the Church of Scientology and its parent company, the Religious Technology Center.
Anonymous’ members cited several reasons for their actions against the Church of Scientology: many have stressed the alleged human rights violations under the auspices of the Church.[1] Others accused the Church of fraud due to its costly ceremonies, while some merely sought the entertainment they refer to as “lulz,” a corruption of the Internet slang “LOL,” or “laugh out loud.”
Most members, however, were concerned with the threat to free speech that the Church posed. This was most evident in the recent attacks on websites such as Digg and YouTube, where the Church filtered anti-Scientology comments and replaced their content with the text “[This comment is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Church of Scientology International].”
“The so-called Church of Scientology actively misused copyright and trademark law in pursuit of its own agenda,” one Anonymous commented. “They attempted not only to subvert free speech, but to recklessly pervert justice to silence those who spoke out against them.”
The Church of Scientology’s legal struggle with its online detractors began in 1994 with the Usenet group “alt.religion.scientology”, a community which spoke out against the Church. Legal representatives from the Church confronted them specifically over the use of Scientology in their name, citing trademark infringement and misrepresentation. This led to numerous lawsuits,[2] and the group was shut down.[3] The Church of Scientology later found itself in several further conflicts on the Internet,[4] including some with popular websites such as Google and Slashdot,[5] as well as an alleged “war” with users of the website YTMND.com.[6]
The members of Anonymous do not plan to end their attacks on the Church of Scientology. Instead, they will continue until the Church of Scientology reacts, at which point they will change strategy. Their main goal is to render the church powerless, and so the war could be one of attrition.
Science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard founded the Church in 1953. In the 55 years since its inception, the Church has faced allegations of being a commercial enterprise that harasses its critics, exploits its members, and neglects adults in its care. Scientology has also faced criticism over the cost required to progress through its “auditing” system, with the total bill for completing the course estimated at $365,000 - $380,000.[7]
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About Anonymous:
Anonymous is a collective composed of many Internet users, combined under one name. The group gained fame through popular image-boards and accrued influence both on the Internet and the real world. They have launched offensives against a wide variety of targets, including the social website Habbo Hotel and various White Supremacy entities. Anonymous played a major role in the capture of Canadian pedophile Chris Forcand.
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