Scientology ‘speed running’ trend has LA abuzz and church unhappy | Los Angeles
On any given day, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard is packed with tourists and street performers gathered near many of the area’s landmarks. However, in recent months there has been turmoil in the strip for a new reason.
A crowd of mostly teenage boys and young men flocks to the Church of Scientology’s international headquarters on the famous street.
The so-called “speed runs” appear to be bids for bravery on social media as much as they are a result of public machinations surrounding the church, which has previously been accused of being a cult – clips of the raids have garnered millions of views on TikTok. Some users developed plans for the building based on information gleaned from videos of the raid.
The church released a statement to the Guardian on Wednesday about a “large-scale incident” on Saturday in which “dozens of people” forced their way into its premises and knocked out staff.
“These are peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors, and members of the public. Making them the target of viral demonstrations is not journalism, protest, or civic activity. It is trespassing, harassment, and disruption of religious facilities,” the church wrote.
Church officials said they were “examining all available solutions” and submitted a report to law enforcement. Spokesperson David Bloomberg said that at least one staff member suffered injuries requiring medical attention due to the incidents.
Los Angeles police received five reports of trespassing; Two of them appeared to be related to attempts at fast running, according to the Los Angeles Times.
An LAPD spokesman told the Guardian no arrests had been made.
This trend appears to have been started by an 18-year-old creator going by the pseudonym Swhileyy. In March, he posted an Instagram video showing himself violating property, and that video was later removed. Swhileyy said he heard about the church through the TikTok account Streets LA, which has more than 330,000 followers.
Swhileyy, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, has moved away from this trend.
“Although I did not violate any laws, I do not approve of what I did.” said Hollywood Reporter. “I have never supported the idea of passing there or breaking my record in any video, in the comments section or anywhere.”
Founded in the 1950s by science fiction author L Ron Hubbard, Scientology has been the subject of fierce scrutiny and public speculation. Many celebrities, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, are members of the church, which has a large presence in Los Angeles.
Asylum seekers, including actor Leah Remini, accused the church of promoting a culture of abuse.
Last week, Remini weighed in on the social media trend, calling it “useless.”
Remini wrote of
“Please focus on exposing the dangers of Scientology, not making a spectacle of it.”
