Protesting Hubbard's Science
Angel Johnson still remembers the experience she had with Scientology.
Looking for faith, she went to one of their centers out of curiosity. She soon discovered that it was not for her. But the organization didn't want her to leave, she said, and impeded her actions.
"I felt afraid," she said Saturday as she stood across the street from Scientology's new center at the west end of Carytown, across from Kroger.
She was 21 years old at the time. Now she's 55.
"I never forgot it," she said.
Johnson was one of dozens of people who spoke with or got information from about 30 protesters Saturday who were set up on the sidewalk across the street from Richmond's first official Scientology center. Groups nationwide protested all Scientology centers Saturday as part of their efforts to raise awareness of Scientology's actions and protest its tax-exempt status as a religion.
Most of the protestors held posters or dry erase boards with various slogans on them, such as "1984 is not an instruction manual" and "Honk if you love free Speech." They also handed out numerous fliers with quotes and other information about the organization, questioning its practices of requiring people to pay for information they believe should be free; the organization's opposition to psychology and medicine; and how they say the organization "brainwashes" people and pulls them away from their family. No one answered the door or appeared to be inside the center Saturday morning. The peaceful protest included music from an old stereo, a birthday cake, pointy party hats and party favors in honor of the birthday of the organization's founder, science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard .
Despite the mood, several police officers monitored the area from the center's parking lot or watching from afar. An officer in a K9 unit came by several times to warn protesters not to walk in the street when they hand out fliers to people in cars. They were also told to not cover their faces because that is a felony in Virginia.
Protesters often mask their identities and won't reveal their names, calling themselves "Anonymous" because they say Scientology has a long history of harassing critics to get their silence.
Scientology, which is most notably followed by actors Tom Cruise , John Travolta , Jason Lee and musician Beck , is based on the works of Hubbard and believes that man is able to solve his problems within himself as well as achieving new states of awareness, according to Scientology.org.
"Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life. Based upon the tradition of 50,000 years of thinking men, it is built upon the fundamental truths of life. From these principles, exact methods by which one can improve conditions were derived; and unlike other efforts of improvement, which offered only rules by which men should live, Scientology offers real tools for use in everyday life," the Web site states. "Thus, it does not depend upon a system of beliefs or faith. The emphasis is squarely on an exact application of its principles toward the improvement of one's life and the world in which we live."
Several of the protesters, some of whom drove to Richmond from Norfolk, Newport News and elsewhere, said they're not against those who believe in Scientology, but instead oppose the organization itself for its tactics.
They're not against religion either, they said. They're against oppression.
"Scientology is pretty much a scam," said an 18-year-old man who identified himself as David . "It's taking people as sheep and brainwashing them to take their money.
"They use psychology to pull people in every year. It's really a shame how it goes unnoticed. I'm just trying to let people know what's going on."
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