Voice of the voiceless - Demo report Sat 25th March

Click on image to enlarge On Saturday 13th March 2004 SPEAK held its first demo against Oxford University’s plans to build a new animal torture centre, just over 2 years later we are still fighting an institution that has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of sentient creatures, 2 years later we are as strong as ever and our strength is increasing!

Two hundred supporters of the SPEAK campaign gathered outside St Johns college on St Giles St as we enter the third year of the fight against the Oxford animal lab. In the two years since SPEAK began its campaign against Oxford University’s animal abusers, the level of support received from members of the public has grown ever stronger. Whilst the university hierarchy are able to threaten their own students and employees with dismissal if they support the SPEAK campaign, they hold no such power over the Oxford public, who have shown us magnificent support, a support that is growing by the day.

With only a week to go before SPEAK returns to the High Court to fight Oxford University’s latest attempt to stamp out free speech and deny us our democratic rights - the activists present, delivered a defiant message: we will not be bullied. It was always going to the case that on this particular day we would be under the scrutiny of those charged with defending this tainted of institutions, however, despite the over whelming and wholly unnecessary security presence, campaigners acted with dignity, discipline and resilience.

A very visual display of banners lined the busy road on St Giles and drew fantastic support from passing motorists. It was noted that four supporters - one of them a key figure in the pro-animal abuse counter demonstration last month, joined the SPEAK demo – could it be that they had finally come to their senses, perhaps not – they probably wanted to experience what a real demo feels like, a demo made up of compassionate individuals rather than one made up of those with a vested interest in the continuance of animal abuse and saving the jobs of a privileged few. Perhaps in future it might be in their best interest to organise their own demos but clearly the huge support base they claim to represent is a little shy, apart from when the cameras are there of course.

Click on image to enlargeThe demonstration made its way down to South Parks Rd where under the latest interim injunction the use of any amplified sound is banned – not because the noise disturbs them, but because the message does! This did not deter people and when the megaphones fell silent, people’s voices took up the compassionate message. It was once again a show of defiance from campaigners who are refusing to be silenced by a bullying and arrogant institution. The right to protest is now inextricably linked with the rights of animals to live a life free from pain and suffering and that is something we are determined to stand up and fight for, no matter what obstacles they put in our way.

The partially built animal torture centre now stands shrouded in white tarpaulin surrounded by metal clad fencing and razor wire, protected by masked security – yes folks this is Britain in the 21st Century. The ‘Fortress’ has become a reminder of just how desperate this university and its friends in the government have become in trying to hide this centre of shame. The demonstrators used their voices to make sure the university could not hide from the truth despite their attempts to silence us. Eventually activists moved off and marched back to St Giles where people were reminded about World Day for Laboratory Animals on Saturday 22nd April a day which really must mark a day of hope for lab animals everywhere! Now more than ever SPEAK needs your support – we are within striking distance of notching up another historic victory, with your help we can stop thousands of animals being tortured and put to death if this laboratory is ever finished. If we defeat Oxford University the ramifications for the future of vivisection not just in this country but worldwide will be devastating.