SPEAK protests continue
Escalating protests over the University's new biomedical research centre have marred Oxford's usual tranquillity during the summer vacation.
Animal rights organisation SPEAK made national news following a mass march through the city centre and the hunger strike of an 85-year-old woman alongside vociferous weekly demonstrations at the location of the new research laboratory.
Some 500 people gathered on Broad Street on Saturday 24th July, marching up to the offending building site on South Parks Road. Organiser Robert Cogswell called the march a "great victory," adding: "It was a great turnout and it was peaceful."
While the University is standing defiant against the protests, its main building contractor Walter Lily and Co, a subsidiary of the Montpellier Group, withdrew its services from the project. No reasons have been given for the firm's departure, although it is widely thought to be a direct result of activism and threats.
This has resulted in the project slowing to a complete halt while the University searches for another contractor. Despite this, the £18m project is still on target, according to a University spokesperson, who said: "We are confident of finishing the building on schedule - we were already ahead of schedule so expect to finish the building at the end of 2005 as planned."
Further measures have been taken in the legal field, with the University seeking an injunction against SPEAK, preventing protests in the centre of Oxford. A temporary injunction has been granted, with the case arising on the 5th October.
SPEAK has dubbed these measures, "extremely Draconian" and are calling for a public debate on the matter.
Consultant neurosurgeon at Oxford University, Professor Tipu Aziz said: "Animal rights terrorism is the most immediate threat to the British population. Until animal rights extremists are treated as terrorists they will hold hostage the future of British public health."
Recent weekly protests have also caused controversy, as a workman on the site allegedly assaulted one 70-year-old protestor. An object was thrown, striking her head and covering her and several other in a "noxious substance which quickly started to burn any unprotected skin," according to SPEAK's website.
A University spokesperson refused to comment on the case, other than noting: "The substance was analysed and found to be water with sand in it. The protester has not made a formal complaint."
6th Oct 2004