Protesters planning action outside Scientology’s UK HQ during its ‘greatest gathering’
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Protesters are planning the largest UK demonstration against Scientology for 15 years, outside what the controversial organisation is calling its “greatest gathering”.
The Scientology leader, David Miscavige, who has been served with lawsuits in the US, including for human trafficking, which he denies, is expected to fly in for the event at the former home of the religion’s late founder, L Ron Hubbard, in East Grinstead, West Sussex, from 3 to 5 November.
The International Association of Scientologists says attenders will “hear about our recent victories, pivotal milestones and upcoming expansion plans” as well as the “heroic things we do for humanity every day”.
The organisation, whose celebrity followers include Tom Cruise and John Travolta, has long been controversial because of claims that it separates its members from their families and indoctrinates followers.
The peaceful protest has been organised by Alexander Barnes-Ross, who says he joined the Scientologists aged 15 in 2011, became its director of public book sales in London in 2013 and was kicked out in 2014.
He said the protest was “sending Scientology a clear message: the abuse must stop”, and was expected to be the largest in the UK since a 2008 demonstration by members of the internet-based group Anonymous outside the church’s London HQ, which attracted more than 300 people.
Content retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/25/protesters-planning-to-target-scientology-greatest-gathering-in-sussex.
