Masked and hooded groups have been showing up at the Church of Scientology’s San Francisco building on Montgomery Street in recent days, trying to speedrun the site for social media, according to church officials. Shaky videos circulating online show crowds pressing against the gate, then scattering when they cannot get inside. In one reported episode, police were called, several people were detained and the church said one person was cited for allegedly battering a staff member.
According to The San Francisco Standard, church staff said “many of them teenagers” tried to get in while filming, and security blocked most of the attempts. A report on the Citizen app logs a 6:07 p.m. 911 call to the church’s address, and an Instagram clip shared last week appears to show a lone intruder wandering stairways before running into security.
How the 'Speedrun' Trend Spread
The stunt, known online as “Scientology speedrunning,” started with viral clips out of Los Angeles in March and quickly spread as creators tried to see how deep they could get into Scientology properties. According to AP News, the videos have pulled in millions of views and triggered police responses in several cities.
Church Response and Police Investigations
The church has condemned the runs as coordinated trespasses that put staff and visitors at risk and has urged authorities to step in. The Los Angeles Times reported that after a large incident in Hollywood, the church removed external door handles from its properties, and the LAPD reassigned detectives to investigate one disturbance as an alleged hate crime.
Legal Risks for Participants
In California, entering private property without consent can be charged as criminal trespass, and even brief unwanted physical contact can qualify as battery. Both are misdemeanors that can also open the door to civil liability for any damage. A recent rundown on TikTok daredevils storm L.A. Scientology hubs from Hoodline noted local statutes and hate-crime concerns that authorities are weighing as they decide whether to file charges.
The San Francisco Police Department did not respond to requests for comment, according to The San Francisco Standard. Church representatives told the paper that staff and security teams have been working to keep groups out and that turning houses of worship into “targets for viral stunts” is both illegal and dangerous.
Platform crackdowns and tighter security have already made some runs tougher to pull off, but experts warn that a viral challenge that started as a prank could easily end in injuries or criminal cases if it keeps escalating. As AP reported, some creators have started distancing themselves from the stunt as videos are removed and police keep closer tabs on gatherings. Staff at the downtown church say they will be on alert for any repeat attempts.
