WHEN IS THE NEXT UK SCIENTOLOGY PROTEST?
25TH OCTOBER 2024
WHEN WERE THE MOST RECENT SCIENTOLOGY PROTESTS?
APRIL 21st, 2024
Sunderland, UK
MARCH 13TH, 2024
London, UK
NOVEMBER 3RD - 5TH, 2023
East Grinstead, UK
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Although Scientology claims to be the "world's fastest growing religion", census data suggests it is in fact shrinking at a rate of knots, with former executives and staff members estimating in 2023 the group only has around 35,000 adherants globally.
Scientology leader David Miscavige has been named as a defendant in a number of lawsuits brought by former members in the United States alleging human trafficking, child labour and harassment. Actress Leah Remini, who used to be a prominent Scientologist and who left the Church in 2013, launched a legal case against the Church of Scientology and David Miscavige in August 2023 in which she claimed she had been subjected to “psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation” for 17 years, which had “significantly impacting my life and career.”
The legal action could be considered an act of Scientology protest, with the Church describing her allegations as “pure lunacy” despite clear evidence of harassment by organization’s ‘Office of Special Affairs’ (OSA). According to L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘Fair Game’ policy, people who speak out against the Church “may be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed” and although the Church claim it was cancelled in 1968, the practice has continued for decades.
In October 2023, it was revealed by online publication Scientology Business that despite attempting to avoid process servers in multiple lawsuits, Scientology leader David Miscavige was expected to host a gathering of the ‘International Association of Scientologists’ (IAS) in England on November 3rd - 5th. The Guardian reported later that month that a former member was organising a Scientology protest outside the event, which is expected to be attended by dozens of activists.
The IAS is the official membership body of Scientology and parishioners are required to pay an annual fee to benefit from Church services. Every year, they hold a celebration of their anniversary at Saint Hil, the UK Scientology headquarters in East Grinstead, Sussex but was on hiatus for 4 years following the global pandemic. It’s return has been described as a “bold statement” from David Miscavige, who is rarely seen in public out of fear of being served legal papers.
Demonstrations are considered harassment by the Church of Scientology and video footage on Youtube clearly show OSA’s harsh treatment of critics - An angry Janet Laveau, who heads up Scientology in the UK, can be seen in one clip even batting a protestor who made it on to their property ahead of the IAS event a few years back.
This website is dedicated to raising awareness of Scientology protests past and present, with details and links provided regularly when new protests are announced.
The most recent Scientology protest was on April 21st 2024 in Sunderland UK. Prior to this, there was a protest on March 13th 2024 in London. Before this, it was 3rd - 5th November 2023 in East Grinstead which according to the Daily Mail, was the largest UK demonstration against Scientology in recent history and the first time protestors picketed outside Saint Hill for all three consecutive days of the IAS event weekend. The demonstration received worldwide media coverage. Shortly afterwards, organisers issued a statement in which it was stated 46 people took part on the first day, with around 15 returning for the second and third days.
On 9th October 2024, the BBC reported that Scientology had filed for a Public Spaces Protection Order which would ban protesting outside their UK headquarters in East Grinstead. In order for a PSPO to be put in place, there needs to be a "persistent" and "ongoing" pattern of harassment and disruption to the local community, however Scientology spokespeople described the protestors as "periodically causing disturbances" so it is unclear whether that meets the threshhold for a ban to be put in place.
The next Scientology protest is planned to take place on 25th October 2024 at Saint Hill, the UK headquarters for the church of Scientology.
This website is updated regularly. Stay tuned.
