Oxford comes out in protest
Over 1000 protesters took to the streets of Oxford over animal testing
Last Saturday around 1000 people took to the streets of Oxford, with a groundbreaking march supporting the building of the South Parks Road animal lab, and a counter-protest by animal rights activists taking place on the same day. Police estimate that 850 of these protesters were marching under the banner of Pro- Test, the organisation set up in support of animal testing and as a reaction to the militant tactics used by some animal rights extremists.
At 11.00 Pro-Test supporters gathered in Broad Street, where they were addressed by Laurie Pycroft, the sixteen -year-old who set up Pro-test just four weeks ago. “It is time we saw the single light of science,” he told the assembled crowds. The marchers made their way down Holywell Street and up Mansfield Road towards the lab site, where simultaneously, SPEAK activists were gathering for their monthly demonstration. However, the two groups were prevented from meeting by a line of police officers.
One unidentified Pro-Test steward was sprayed with green paint by a member of the crowd, but no violence occured. Oxford professor John Stein and local MP Evan Harris spoke to the demonstrators, with Stein evoking the image of a young child with meningitis, who could now live because of animal testing, and Harris sending his message to SPEAK, saying, “You will never win. Every vile action of harassment, intimidation and violence undermines all legitimacy you have and strengthens the rule of law.”
The Pro-Testers eventually proceeded to Radcliffe Square, where they were addressed by members of the Pro-Test committee, including chief steward Tom Holder who told the crowd, “We are not the minority, we are the majority. This is five hundred people, telling five hundred people. We will tell the world that this is important.
One protester, who was confined to a wheelchair, told The Oxford Student he had come from Wiltshire to join the Pro-Test. “I have a rare neurological condition that only one in 50,000 people suffer from. The only way they’re going to get anywhere with a cure is through animal testing. I’m so grateful to everyone who is here showing support • it’s about time the silent majority spoke out.” Pro-Test founder Pycroft later told The Oxford Student he was delighted with the turnout.
“It’s been brilliant. We were expecting two or three hundred, but we got at least 1000. The media attention has been really surreal. “We’re taking a break now, but there will be another demo somewhere else • maybe London or Cambridge. We mailed other universities to get their support out here. Now the people of Oxford are biting back.
The SPEAK activists had remained at the lab site, and although they had planned only to hold a static demonstration, at about 2pm the police gave them permission to march. Around 200 people made their way down South Parks Road into Broad Street, accompanied by a strong police presence. Outside the King’s Arms a group of Pro-Test supports began hissing and booing at the activists, but were held back by police officers.
After being released by the police, protester James Patten told The Oxford Student, “Jeering’s not the best way of getting our message across but it is one of many.
In Broad Street the protesters chanted for several minutes, with a minority of protesters altering the words of chants in an anti-student vein, calling, “One, two, three, four, nail the students to the floor, five, six, seven, eight, flush them out and liberate,” and “One struggle, one fight, kill the students, bite and might.” After the march, founding member of SPEAK Mel Broughton spoke to The Oxford Student.
“As far as I’m concerned they’re only chants, they’re only words,” he said. Where’s the condemnation for violence against the animals? It’s just words, what can words do? The real violence is occurring inside the labs. “I’d have more respect for [Pro-Test] if they had been here two years ago… They’re being cynically used by people inside the university to maintain their own position. “Pro-Test, you’ve had your day. They didn’t get the confrontation they wanted. We’ll be here however long it takes. If they really believe in what they’re doing they’ll get out here and do it.”
When Broughton spoke to the assembled crowd on Broad Street, he claimed victory for animal rights campaigners: “This day has been ours. Never before has the vivisection industry had to come and fight us like they have today. We’ve shown them what this is really about. “They have thrown the best they can at us today, and it was nothing.
They failed miserably, and they know it. Pro-Test don’t have any relevance. The only thing that matters now is us, is that we finish this job and stop that animal torture lab from opening its doors. “We found out this week that students who support SPEAK have been told their futures at this university are under threat if they continue to support us. If that’s what they have to stoop to, then we have nothing to worry about.
However, Pro-Test leader Pycroft dismissed Broughton’s claims of victory. “If they want to believe they won, they can, but I think it was a victory for us. The numbers speak for themselves; I’ll let the public decide.
With around 150 policemen and several mounted police, along with police photographers and police vehicles, the forces were ready for any potential trouble that the simultaneous protests could have caused, but a spokesperson said they were satisfied with the way the day had been managed. “From a policing point of view the day went very well.
Protests by both sides were facilitated in a way which saw demonstrators from Pro-Test and SPEAK come to the city and show their support for a cause without disrupting the rest of the city or getting aggressive. “The negotiations from both groups • be it somewhat at the eleventh hour in SPEAK’s case • helped things run well.”
2nd Mar 2006