A group of youths forced their way into a Church of Scientology building in Manhattan on Saturday, causing damage and injuring a staff member, in the latest of a series of viral “speed running” incidents across the United States.
The church said the group broke through a locked door on West 36th Street, throwing objects and damaging property while worshippers attended a seminar. One member of staff required medical attention, and another was subjected to a racial slur. The church described the act as “coordinated” and not a peaceful protest.
The incident follows similar episodes at the Church of Scientology’s international headquarters in Los Angeles, where dozens of people forced entry on 25 April, knocking down staff. No arrests have been made in connection with the New York incident, and police are investigating.
The trend is believed to have been started by an 18-year-old content creator known online as Swhileyy, who posted a video of himself entering the property in March. He has since distanced himself from the trend, saying he did not promote it.
Actress Leah Remini, a prominent critic of the church, has called the “speed running” trend unhelpful, arguing it could reinforce Scientologists’ beliefs about outsiders. She urged focus on exposing the church’s alleged abuses rather than making a spectacle.
