Note: Due to time constraints, I will unfortunately no longer be able to update this site.

Introduction to Protesting

Anonymous has staged a global protest against the Church of Scientology every month since the first one on February 10, 2008. These protests are generally across the street from one of their church buildings. Depending on the month and the size of the city, attendance ranges anywhere from three or four to over 600. These protests are completely peaceful and lawful, organized in cooperation with local law enforcement. To see videos of past protests, go to the Videos section.

Each protest generally has its own theme. If you're new, you don't need to worry about this particularly; not everyone follows the theme and nobody will care if you don't, as long as you're protesting Scientology.

To learn more about protests in your area, go to the WhyWeProtest.net forums and scroll down to the section on Activism. From there you should be able to find your way to the forum for the latest upcoming protest; find the geographical location nearest you and read about the details. You generally don't need to notify anyone that you're coming; just show up, and you will be welcomed.

Check with your local group to learn when the next protest is for you.

Protest Guidelines

Be aware that you are taking a risk by protesting. Note a huge risk - this isn't the Mafia, after all - but the danger is real. In the past, protesters have been followed, harassed, or assaulted. Scientology is dangerous; that's why we're protesting. But have a little courage, and follow these guidelines, and you'll be fine.
Stay calm. Don't let yourself be baited into anger. Just relax. You have nothing to gain by screaming, and everything to gain by staying calm.
Cover your face. A Guy Fawkes mask is preferred (see section below on masks) but the important thing is just to conceal your identity. We're called Anonymous for a reason.
Cooperate with law enforcement and city officials. If you're new, someone else will probably be notifying city officials of the protest, you don't need to worry about that. But if a police officer tells you to do something, comply as best you can. Anonymous has a good relationship with law enforcement as a general rule; let's keep it that way.
No violence or weapons. This goes for fake weapons too.
Don't do anything stupid. This includes drinking alcohol (before or during), violence, vandalism, obscenities, hate speech, messing with cops, and going into the Scientology building.
Never be alone. Strength in numbers.
Think about what you'll wear. Generally there is no dress code for protests, but dressing more formally (as in a suit and tie) does make the public - and Scientologists - take you more seriously. Also consider bringing a change of clothes so as to throw off pursuit once the protest ends.
Bring water.
Know how to contact law enforcement if necessary. For many protests, police officers will be standing nearby. It's also a good idea to have the local police on speed-dial.
When you leave, watch for pursuit. Scientologists do sometimes follow protesters back to their cars. If you think you are being followed, do not go to your car. Notify law enforcement.

Masks

Most Anonymous protesters wear a mask to conceal their identity, and I'd suggest doing the same. The Church of Scientology attacks and harasses its critics as a matter of standard policy - but they can only attack you if they know who you are. (Note: some cities will not allow you to wear a mask. Consult your local laws, or just ask others who have protested there.)

Please think about what kind of mask/covering you will wear. The image you project determines how the public will perceive you. A bandana over the mouth, for instance, makes you look like a bank robber - that may sound silly, but that's really what many people will think of. Personally I'd recommend the "Guy Fawkes" mask - that's the white mask from V for Vendetta you've probably seen on so many protesters. I think that the more protesters are wearing the same mask, the more unified the group appears visually, and the more seriously people will take us. Just my own opinion, of course.

If you do decide to buy a Guy Fawkes mask, be careful where you get it from. Don't buy from eBay; Scientologists can sell the mask there as a way of tracking down the people who buy them. (If you think that sounds paranoid, you haven't read enough about Scientology's history.) I recommend ordering your mask from the links below:

Nothing But Costumes - U.S.

Forbidden Planet - U.K.

If you're feeling particularly inspired, you can also make your own.

Signs and Banners

The two most important considerations when making a sign are making your sign readable and picking a good slogan.

Making your sign readable is simple: make sure you can read the sign easily from 30 or 40 feet away. If you can't, you're wasting your time. Letters should be bold and thick, neatly written, and in good contrast with the background. Also remember that not everyone has perfect eyesight, and that bigger, clearer signs catch the eye much more easily.

Picking a good slogan is even more important. You have a half-second window to catch someone's attention and make them understand what's going on. The text of your sign should be short, simple, and to the point. Six words is good; four words is better. Above all, consider your audience.

If your audience is the general public, remember that they do not know what's going on, so your sign has to make sense to someone with no background in this struggle. Joe Public does not know any of these terms: OSA, Sea Org, OT, Thetan, LRH. They have never heard of Lisa McPherson and they don't know about Fair Game. There is a good chance they have never heard of Xenu, and they may or may not even associate Tom Cruise with Scientology. They probably will not get Internet in-jokes. They certainly will not know what you mean by "the cult" or "the church" without context.

Signs that say things like "Tom Cruise Can't Fly," "Hail Xenu," "Dirty Sexy Thetans," and "Evil Cult Is Evil" are not going to be effective in making the public understand our cause.

The following are examples of good signs targeted at the general public:

Please Google "Operation: Freakout"
Religion is Free, Scientology is Not
Scientology is a Dangerous Cult
Scientology Breaks Families
Scientology Hurts People
Ask Me Why I Wear a Mask
WhyWeProtest.net

If your audience is Scientologists, don't antagonize them. Don't tell them their religion is stupid; don't belittle or threaten them; don't use Internet in-jokes they may not understand. Instead, reach out to them in a positive way, and use their own terminology in a way they can understand. Many ex-Scientologists say they left the cult when they realized that Scientology's critics are not the hate-mongers the Church makes them out to be. Examples of good Scientologist-targeted signs include:

Reconnect
DM Squirreled the Tech
ExScientologyKids.org

Dealing with the Public

If you choose to talk directly with the public, there are two main points to keep in mind.

First, project a good image. Remember, you represent Anonymous. Understand that you may come across as strange, creepy, or even frightening due to your mask. You can overcome this negative image by being professional. That means be polite - call men "Sir" and women "Ma'am" even if they're young. Say "please" and "thank you." The better we do this, the harder it becomes for Scientology to brand us terrorists.

And second, be prepared with good, specific information. Telling someone that "Scientology is evil" isn't convincing; generalities aren't effective. Be ready with specific, hard-hitting facts. Tell them about the long hours of child labor... the pressure to have abortions in the Sea Org... the harassing phone calls and smear campaign against Paulette Cooper. Answer questions intelligently. Emphasize that we're protesting the organization, not the beliefs. It's a sales pitch, no doubt about it, and you've got to be ready!

Dealing with Scientologists

When talking with a Scientologist, the number one rule is to stay calm. Remember that we are trying to help these people, not hurt them. Don't antagonize them; don't be unnecessarily aggressive or rude; don't tell them their beliefs are stupid. If a Scientologist tries to get you angry, don't take the bait. Meet their unreason with reason; meet their hostility with logic. If you are physically attacked, get away and contact law enforcement as quickly as possible; do not fight back unless you have to.

You can find more advice on dealing with Scientologists here.

If a Scientologist is talking to you and you don't feel comfortable dealing with them, notify your group. Someone more experienced will take over dealing with the Scientologist.

Fliers and Pamphlets

Handing out fliers is a great way to get your message out to the public. If you pass out fliers, make sure you're familiar with the material in the flier; verify that information and URLs are accurate, and be prepared to discuss whatever topics the flier mentions.

Some sample fliers can be found on WhyWeProtest threads here and here. There's also a big Photobucket site full of fliers and images here.