Anonymous vs Scientology – June
June 16, 2008 12:07 pm All, London, Protests14th June, 2008 – Protest against Scientology, London
So it’s already the 5th month that Anonymous have been protesting globally against Scientology. Each month the demonstrators pick an aspect of Scientology that they disagree with, and this month’s campaign was called Operation Sea Arrgh, in response to Scientology’s Sea Org.
Naturally, this was a perfect excuse to dress up as pirates.
At last month’s protest, a demonstrator known as Epic Nose Guy was given a court summons for failing to remove a sign that depicted Scientology as a cult – http://tanya-n.com/4chan4/IMG_2597.jpg. The Crown Prosecution Service ruled that the word “cult” was “neither abusive or insulting” with no further action taken. He turned up again and was pursued by the “pros”.
It was amusing really – they told him exactly where to stand, to tilt his sign and to look towards the Church of Scientology building. The photographer in the foreground below then took around 20 pictures using burst mode (why?) from various angles.
The demonstrators took full advantage of their freedom to call Scientology a cult! Just in case you missed it:
As ever, these protests are amusing, although becoming a tad monotonous. I wonder if the demonstrators plan to mix things up and maybe do something a little different to perhaps gain a bit more publicity? Alas, I won’t be around for the July one, but I’ll be looking out for the pictures!
I’ll end with a shot I took just after I left the protest, of a very kind man, who randomly decided to call me a “terrorist” and “Taliban”, and to go back to my country 
A tad confused, I turned around and asked him to repeat what he said, and he did. He wasn’t drunk and didn’t appear to be on drugs – in fact, he was speaking with a slight accent (somewhat ironic) and quite eloquently. He carried on ranting at me so naturally, I took a snap.
Clearly camera-shy, but not shy to air his racist thoughts.
I didn’t feel threatened at all by his stupidity – in fact I found his comments hilarious and yet infuriating. I told him to stop being so ignorant and that this *is* my country. Sad, really. My first experience of racist abuse!
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February – http://tanya-n.com/?p=104
March – http://tanya-n.com/?p=107
April – http://tanya-n.com/?p=110
stelios :
Date: June 16, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
I think I’ll start protesting against those protests! haha. ok i’m kidding.
why shoot 20 frames in burst mode? because his camera can! he’d shoot video if he could.
did this guy listen to your accent? sounded quite british to me! I didn’t know Taliban’s had roots in India :P
Halfang :
Date: June 16, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Interestingly, I didn’t see you this time around! I thought you didn’t turn up at all! :O
But I see now that you were there. Well done!
He shoots 20 pictures because he isn’t able to do it with just one or two, as you probably do. You are a star!
Gerald :
Date: June 17, 2008 @ 10:37 am
I’m not sure I’d agree with the protestors about it being a cult but that’s just an opinion – great coverage and better than the pros who need so many photos to justify themselves – shame about the abusive fellow.
Jonny :
Date: June 17, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
I’m pleased to see that the CPS have some common sense (unlike the police). Whether or not anyone believes that it is a cult, I can’t really see how the word can be considered offensive. The police really let themselves down when they start handing out notices like that.
Sorry to hear about the idiot at the end – sounds like you handled it all very well!
Shashank :
Date: June 18, 2008 @ 8:19 am
yay for racism…wonder how people can be so arrogantly stupid
anyways i will be in Bombay all july…good times