Groups spread Scientology speed running trend globally
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 8
Groups spread Scientology speed running trend globally
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 8
About 300 mostly young people targeted a Vancouver church on 3 May, while another crowd entered Scientology's Midtown Manhattan site, causing damage and a minor injury.
Police reported at least three arrests outside Los Angeles, and the church says two members suffered minor injuries elsewhere after earlier Hollywood incidents prompted an LAPD hate-crimes review.
The prank-protest trend, amplified by online dares and videos, has also reached San Diego, San Francisco, Canada and the UK as Scientology issues legal warnings and platforms remove related content.
When does a viral social media prank become a coordinated campaign of hate crimes against a religion?
Is the viral 'speed run' trend a genuine protest, or a gift to the Church of Scientology?