A group of youths forced their way into a Scientology church in New York on Saturday, marking the latest in a series of nationwide "speed running" incidents that have gained viral attention on social media in recent weeks.
Incident Details
The group broke through a locked door to enter the Church of Scientology on West 36th Street in Manhattan, throwing objects, damaging property, and injuring a staff member while worshippers and visitors attended a seminar, according to a statement from the church provided to the Guardian. The injured staff member required medical attention, and another was subjected to a racial slur.
"This was not a peaceful visit or lawful protest. It was a coordinated act involving forced entry, property damage, and physical aggression inside a house of worship," the statement added.
Speed Running Trend
These incidents follow a pattern of mostly adolescent boys and young men rushing the Church of Scientology’s international headquarters on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles in recent weeks. Clips of these "speed runs" have amassed millions of views on TikTok.
"Some online have referred to these incidents as 'speed running.' In reality, they involve organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention," the church said. "Church facilities are peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors and members of the public. Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment, and disruption of religious spaces."
The church emphasized that it welcomes lawful visitors but does not tolerate forced entry, property damage, threats, or injuries. No arrests have been made in connection to Saturday’s incident, and the church is cooperating with the New York Police Department as the investigation continues.
Previous Incidents
A similar "large-scale incident" occurred in Los Angeles on April 25, where dozens of individuals forced their way into the church’s facilities, knocking down staff members. At least one staff member sustained injuries requiring medical attention. The Los Angeles Police Department has received five reports of trespassing incidents, two of which appeared related to speed-running attempts, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The trend reportedly began with an 18-year-old content creator known as Swhileyy, who posted a video on Instagram in March showing himself breaching the property. The video has since been removed. Swhileyy, who has not been publicly identified, has distanced himself from the trend, stating, "I do not condone what I did, even though I didn’t break any laws. I never once in any video or any comment section or anywhere promoted the idea of running through there or beating my record."
Background on Scientology
Founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, Scientology has long been subject to public scrutiny, controversy, and speculation. Many celebrities, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, are members of the church, which has a significant presence in Los Angeles. Defectors, such as actress Leah Remini, have accused the church of fostering a culture of abuse. In 2023, Remini sued the church and its leader, David Miscavige, for harassment, defamation, surveillance, and other unlawful behavior resulting in "psychological torture."
Remini recently commented on the speed-running trend, calling it "unhelpful." She wrote on X, "If someone is brainwashed for years into believing the outside world is filled with dangerous lunatics who wish to impede Scientology, a group of people running through a Scientology building is only going to confirm that belief and lead them to dedicate themselves even more to the cause they believe in. Please focus on exposing the dangers of Scientology, not making a spectacle out of it."
