Anonymous vs Scientology: Portland
I’m not sure how long I’ve been following Anonymous’ war on Scientology, but it’s been nearly since its inception; I picked up on rumblings online within the first couple days. Sure, DDoSing Scientology websites and bombing their faxes is funny, but I really didn’t expect much else. Forgive my incredulity, then, when I first heard Anonymous were organizing demonstrations outside Scientology centers (are they churches?) worldwide. The date was set for February 10th, what would have been Lisa McPherson’s 49th birthday. I had totally spaced it when I received a text this afternoon.
I really didn’t expect a turnout, so I asked how many were there. “At least 100, probably closer to 200. Cops and everything.” I grabbed my camera and my 18-135mm and hopped on the train downtown.
I was still a block away or more when I heard it.
“WHO ARE WE?!”
“ANONYMOUS!!!”
“DO WE FORGIVE?!”
“NO!!!!”
“DO WE FORGET?!!”
“NO!!!”
“No fucking way,” I thought to myself as I quickened my pace. By the time I got there, the protest had already been active for nearly three hours and though their numbers had decreased, there were still a good 75 masked protesters there. At least. The church had pulled a bullshit move of hanging an enormous “Community Charity Drive” banner out front**, to create the impression that Anonymous were a bunch of pricks protesting a harmless non-profit, but passersby seemed to be generally receptive to the literature Anon was handing out (despite the fact those V for Vendetta stylized Guy Fawkes masks are pretty fucking creepy).
There was a minor hangup, as I was busy shooting away, when somebody said something about me behind my back. I turned and asked him to repeat what he said. “Nothing.” Huh. I started to take pictures again when he spoke up. “You’re a Scientologist, right?” It hadn’t occurred to me that since I was not wearing a mask, I was obviously not with Anon, so they assumed I was taking photos for the church. Me. The atheist asshole. Mistaken for a Scientologist. I just laughed and everybody breathed a sigh of relief. I accepted several handshakes and gracious apologies. “Sorry, dude. I called you scifag.” Hahaha
I can understand their paranoia; the church was also busy at work filming the entire protest from behind closed blinds on their second floor and the lone female Scientology suit was taking plenty of stills with her shitty camera. Any time suits entered or left the church, Anon members would join together in a rendition of Darth Vader’s Imperial March theme, which actually even got the suits chuckling. Of course, we all know that when a Scientologist laughs, it’s merely to create the illusion they have feelings and not a real expression of emotion.
A couple interesting points: I took a break to go to a nearby Subway for a sandwich. Inside, two tables had people with Anon literature that were actually discussing Scientology. Also, as I waited for the train to head back after the protest, several people approached the guys next to me (wearing Guy Fawkes masks), asking if they were “with Anonymous,” for directions to the protest or to congratulate the effort. This, combined with the church’s filming and bullshit charity drive, leads me to believe that A: Anonymous has actually been very successful in raising awareness about Scientology and B: that the church is taking them relatively seriously.
I was extremely impressed with the success of the protest and salute Anonymous of Portland. Keep up the good work.
Repository of Portland protest stuff…here.
**Edit: Feb. 11 - How convenient.
(7:57:52 PM) zhx: anybody go back to the church today?
(7:58:10 PM) anon000: someone did yes
(7:58:19 PM) anon111: i was near there..
(7:58:21 PM) zhx: do you know if they still had that charity banner up?
(7:58:33 PM) |: friend of mine says he didn’t see it today
(7:58:37 PM) zhx: haha
(7:59:01 PM) zhx: a one day emergency charity drive then, huh?
(7:59:15 PM) |: confirming
(7:59:51 PM) |: he is mostly positive, will drive by tmw to confirm
(7:59:57 PM) zhx: yeah im curious
(8:03:49 PM) anon: zhx, I went there today
(8:03:53 PM) anon: the sign is gone
(8:03:56 PM) anon: all of them
(8:03:59 PM) zhx: wow
(8:04:02 PM) anon: indeed
(8:04:13 PM) |: ha. ha. ha.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:35 am
aww bill…… your first scientology protest. him’s getting so big.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:42 am
i was gonna become a member but now that i know you will make fun of me fuck that
February 11th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Dude, I’m SO tellin’ Tom.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
http://www.partyvan.info/index.php/Project_Chanology