On February 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA six former Scientology Sea Org members took the stage at the Steve Allen Theater to expose abusive conditions inside the Church of Scientology. The event was hosted by the Center for Inquiry West and held to commemorate the two year anniversary of the Project Chanology segment of Anonymous taking a stand worldwide to peacefully protest the criminal policies and abusive practices the Church of Scientology adheres too.
The footage of this conference is available below and the topics includes exploitation, physical abuse, and forced abortions. The full press pack that was made available to the media outlets who attended is available on scribd.com under my CofS Fact Sheets folder, with photos compliments of the socal anons who organized the event at Anoniversary '10 Day 1.
The featured speakers at this phenomenal event included the following folks:
- Marc Headley, author of Blown for Good. For 15 years Marc lived at Scientology’s International Base, where he worked 100-hour work weeks for less than 50 cents an hour, enduring mental and physical abuse. Marc made a dramatic escape from the heavily guarded compound in Hemet, California, and started a new life with his wife, who also escaped.
- Jeff Hawkins, who spent 35 years working for Scientology all over the world, including the top level at the International Base. Jeff left Scientology five years ago after suffering beatings by Scientology’s leader, David Miscavige.
- Laura Decrescenzo, who was recruited into Scientology at the age of twelve. Married at sixteen, she became pregnant and was forced to abort her child; Scientology staff are not allowed to have children. In desperation, Laura swallowed bleach to get herself thrown out.
- Maureen Bolstad, who at age 15, “got tricked into making a dumb mistake” and signed a contract to join Scientology staff. Maureen was promised an education and regular pay, but instead worked 18 hours a day, seven days a week, and developed health and emotional problems. She was allowed to leave after three years of being made to “confess her sins and evil intentions.”
- Will Fry, who was raised by scientologists, and attended Scientology boarding school while his parents worked for the church. As a teenager, Will joined the Sea Org, but immediately realized he wanted out; it took him almost three years. Afterwards the church billed him $12,000 for a so-called “freeloader debt.”
- Nancy Many, author of My Billion Year Contract (not pictured above). When she was five months pregnant, Nancy was sent to Scientology’s re-indoctrination labor camp, where she was forced to work ten hours a day, followed by five hours of study, while living in a garage. Nancy suffered a mental breakdown after relentless interrogations and confessions.
- Mark Bunker, who served as moderator and is an Emmy-winning journalist who has been covering Scientology since 1997. His website (xenutv.com) features video and commentary covering the controversial church.
Following the conference, the free speech activists and human rights advocates launched the Southern Megaraid festivities that is highlighted in the flyer below:
Three full days of awesomeness was had in southern California, as well as other places around the world where protesters celebrated our two year anoniversary.
Let there be no doubt, Anonymous Is Still Alive and we will keep busting the cult's chops until the abuses stop.
KINDRED BACK MATTER
