Primates such as that above, whose brain has been operated on, are saved
Primates such as that above, whose brain has been operated on, are saved |
The SPEAC campaign has highlighted the undemocratic nature of the Government’s intervention and the “arrogance” of Cambridge University in their alliance to ride roughshod over public opinion. The Labour Government were the main backers of this project; the main protagonist behind the drive to make Cambridge the primate research capital of Europe was Labour’s chief financial backer Science Minister Lord Sainsbury. Sainsbury is well known to have huge financial interests in the Biotechnology industry, which would have been the main beneficiary of the proposed centre at 307, Huntingdon Rd. |
The campaign against Cambridge University is an illustration of what we can achieve as a movement. From the beginning the local activists in Cambridge put the proposed primate lab under the spotlight and galvanised grass roots opposition. What followed should make us all feel proud and enpowered, as a movement we came together and stood firm in the face of a Government hell bent on trampling over us.
The day of total animal liberation has come a step closer, the Animal Rights movement has grown stronger and the dawn at the end of the animals nightmare becomes brighter.
The lively, large gathering commenced outside the Senate House in central Cambridge; rousing and emotional speeches were given to inform those not already in the know about the University’s plans and to encourage everyone to take responsibility to ensure the university are not allowed to torture, mutilate and kill primates under the fraudulent banner of research. That day the streets of Cambridge were filled with hundreds of people from all walks of life, with one common interest: to prevent an atrocity killing both primate, and as a direct result of this misleading ‘science’, human life.
The highly visual, hard-to-ignore protest marched around the streets of Cambridge calling on students, residents and visitors alike to put pressure on the University to pull out of this barbaric, destructive and downright dangerous venture. After the march returned to the Senate House, the protest continued around the University and outside the site for the proposed lab, 307 Huntingdon Road, one of the main roads into Cambridge.
After the numbers began to swell at this location, protesters took to the road and blocked it off for over half an hour. The feeling was defiant as people of all ages let the authorities know that the animal rights movement and the public at large would not be standing for the construction of the primate lab; everyone was chanting as they sat in the road, preventing the free passage of many vehicles. After about 30 minutes, police began to move people from one side of the road, threatening to arrest people if they didn’t move; most moved but a few people were arrested, including one elderly woman aged 84! It took a further 20 minutes to clear the other side of the road of protesters; culminating in a further few arrests, including one person making their way back to the roadside but was arrested nonetheless!