'Speed running' trend spreads despite Scientology and social media sites trying to stop it

"Since the first incidents in Los Angeles in late March, large groups of people - some in costumes - have tried to race through buildings belonging to the church in New York, San Diego, San Francisco and countries outside the U.S., even as Scientology's lawyers, law enforcement agencies and social media platforms have sought to halt the viral movement."

"The trend started with groups of teens recording themselves sprinting through properties belonging to the Church of Scientology along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In each video, runners dart around church staff and race up staircases, seeing how far they can get before someone asks them to leave or threatens to call the police."

""Speed running" is a video game term referring to players who try to complete games as quickly as possible, scurrying around hazards and taking shortcuts to skip through levels. A speed runner who spoke to The Times last month said the events are part-prank, part-protest against an organization that has been accused in lawsuits of sex abuse, violating child labor laws and forcing members to get abortions. The church disputes those allegations and has denied any wrongdoing."

"At least one person received a legal threat from the church, alleging an online dare prompted a chaotic incident in L.A., according to a legal document reviewed by The Times and confirmed as authentic by a Scientology spokesperson. Other online content creators on TikTok and Instagram say they've had their accounts suspended or threatened with discipline for posting videos about the church and the speed runs."

Large groups have continued “speed running” through Scientology buildings in multiple U.S. cities and other countries, sometimes wearing costumes. The activity began with teens recording themselves sprinting through properties along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, darting around staff and racing up staircases to see how far they could go before being asked to leave or threatened with police. The trend is framed by participants as part prank and part protest against allegations involving sex abuse, child labor law violations, and forced abortions, which the church denies. Legal threats have been issued to at least one participant, and some creators report TikTok and Instagram account suspensions or threats of discipline for posting videos about the church. Authorities, lawyers, and social media platforms have sought to halt the movement.

Read at Los Angeles Times