Anonymous

What is Anonymous?

On the 10th of February, 2008, thousands of protesters took to the streets in protests against the Church of Scientology across the globe. Since February, monthly protests have been held in over 100 cities internationally. The difference between these protesters and other critics of the Church of Scientology is simply that these protesters, by large, choose to preserve their anonymity.

‘Anonymous’ is essentially a convenient label used to refer to the loosely organised and leaderless collective of thousands of like-minded critics of the Church of Scientology.

The Church of Scientology frequently claims that Anonymous is an organisation funded by the psychiatric industry to stop the growth of Scientology and to negate their assault on psychiatry. The grass roots movement of Anonymous against the Church of Scientology is self-funded, and if it’s not then my cheque must have been lost in the mail.

Why do you wear masks?

The Church of Scientology is a sinister organisation which attempts to silence criticism by whatever means necessary. Many protesters overseas and interstate who have had their identities exposed by the Church of Scientology have been subject to the Church’s fair game policy.

The Church of Scientology goes to extreme measures to expose the identities of critics, and as such, continuing to wear masks is an act of defiance against this organisation.

Guy Fawkes

The Guy Fawkes mask has become a symbol of the Anonymous protests against Scientology. The mask is based on popular depictions of Guy Fawkes, who was a revolutionist that played a crucial role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Aside from the symbolic meaning; the Guy Fawkes mask also helps in preserving anonymity and presenting a united front against the Church of Scientology.

Why are you protesting against the Church of Scientology?

“Would you want to look your children in the eye and say that you stood idly by while the exploitation of people for profit under the mask of religion became an acceptable concept?” - Thunderf00t 1

I believe that the policies and actions of the Church of Scientology are a direct assault on freedom and democracy. This is an organisation which is anti-free speech, anti-freedom of information and anti-human rights.

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  1. http://youtube.com/watch?v=v6eNyBrQUKs ↩