A show of strength - Day 2 of Joan's Hunger Strike

At 1pm as Joan Court entered day two of her hunger strike against the Oxford animal laboratory, supporters of the SPEAK campaign gathered at the site for the weekly demo. The regular protesters were joined by others who had travelled from around the country to see Joan and support the SPEAK campaign and the numbers rose to 43, just seven short of the limit set by the injunction.

It was clear from the outset that Thames Valley Police were rattled by this show of strength and unity, and in true style they did their best to intimidate those gathered opposite the half-built lab. The mood amongst the campaigners was upbeat and positive and this served only to spur the police on to ever more desperate attempts to cast a cloud over the day.

Joan received a great welcome when she left her temporary home in Oxford City centre to come down and stand with those demonstrating outside the partially-built lab. The normal quota of police officers and evidence gatherers were joined by a further van load of police officers and even a contingency of officers from the Metropolitan Police were present, obviously Joan's compassion has got them rattled.

The show of force from the police was no match for the solidarity and the level of commitment demonstrated by those gathered to protest. This coupled with the high level of support from passing motorists shows once again we are not a marginal movement. More people than ever approached us and asked what they could do to help and the usual defenders of animal abuse who heckle each week looked like the very ill-informed and tiny minority they really are.

Joan remained at the site for about an hour before returning and resuming her position in the heart of Oxford, where a constant stream of the Oxford public are approaching her to offer their support and sign the SPEAK petition.

After almost a year of protests outside the concrete shell on South Parks Rd, it must have come as a blow to the university and police that far from running out of steam we have grown bigger and more determined. No amount of intimidation, subtle or overt, can divert us from the course we have set out. The fight against the Oxford lab is about far more than just stopping this centre of animal abuse it is also about rights and freedoms. The freedom for science to move away from the dictatorship and fraud of animal experimentation, the freedom for all animals to live a life free from pain and suffering, and the defence of our rights to stand up and speak out. The campaign to stop the Oxford animal lab will be a fundamental moment in the fight for those freedoms and rights.

50hrs into the Hunger Strike - Update Friday 22nd April 15.00

Another 22 hours before Joan ends her hunger strike and news in from supporters on the ground report that Joan is still feeling strong and determined the see the hunger strike through to its conclusion tomorrow. She has been sleeping well despite camping down in the back of a van, Joan has refused the offer of a bed in a SPEAK supporter's home, preferring to spend the 72 hours outside and in the centre of Oxford.

Joan is truly and inspiration to the whole movement and her courage and determination illustrate, more than any words, what strength and depth the animal rights movement has. With individuals like Joan in the movement, SPEAK are convinced that a great victory at Oxford can be achieved.