Statement from West Midlands Animal Action r.e. the Oxford Injunction granted today 10 Nov 04

Oxford University were today [10 Nov 2004] granted an injunction that is apparently intended to protect them and others against animal rights 'extremists', allowing them to continue building their new animal testing lab. The restrictions imposed against protesters are draconian and breach our human rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

West Midlands Animal Action (WMAA) were originally named on the injunction along with People Against Cruelty to Animals (PACA - another Midlands group), and the Oxford Animal Rights Group. Other named groups were the Speak Campaign, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

Much of what Oxford Uni wanted has now been granted by the High Court judge in order to supposedly curb 'harassment, threats and attacks' from those opposed to the new torture lab. But it is quite clear that the restrictions are actually intended to stifle our free speech at a time when the general public are becoming more aware than ever of the scientific fraudulence of vivisection.

There is of course no doubt that unlawful activity has taken place against the Oxford lab, but the vast majority of protesters are entirely peaceful. We don't go armed with bricks and paint bombs, we peacefully protest to inform the general public of the real truth about vivisection, the truth that the government, Oxford University and the mainstream media try to hide.

WMAA can't speak on behalf of other groups but we were named for 2 reasons. Firstly, we held a series of peaceful protests outside the offices of RMC, the labs concrete supplier, in Rugby. These simply involved informing the public in the busy town centre of RMC's involvement in building the Oxford lab. Banners and placards were displayed, leaflets distributed and a megaphone used to address the thousands of motorists who drove by every hour.

Secondly, WMAA organised a coach to take people from the Midlands to the National March & Rally in Oxford on Saturday 24 July. The event was organised with the help of the police who set restrictions on the day (march route etc.) and was attended by approx 500 protesters. It passed off entirely peacefully and there were no arrests.

For these 2 reasons alone, WMAA found itself on the list of groups and individuals that the injunction was sought against. An Interim Injunction was granted against all those named but as of today, WMAA, PACA and the Oxford AR Group have been dropped off the injunction. Clearly, the reasons behind this are that our groups have had such slight involvement in the campaign, and our only involvement has been entirely peaceful. But that didn't stop Oxford Uni and their lawyers trying.

WMAA are obviously pleased to be dropped off this injunction but we are saddened that it has been enforced against any group. We would like to make it clear that we will continue to campaign within the law against the building of Oxford Uni's new lab, as will we're sure, the other groups involved.

There are many laws in place already to combat people who commit criminal damage and threaten or attack those involved with this laboratory. This injunction will do nothing to stop people who are already prepared to break the law in order to fight animal cruelty. Instead, it will severely restrict the human rights of anyone who wishes to peacefully campaign against the new lab and will undoubtedly cause alot of frustration, which will inevitably lead to yet more criminal activity, which, we're told, the injunction is intended to stop.

West Midlands Animal Action, PO Box 10202, Redditch, Worcs. B98 8YT.
Call or text: 07952 561652
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.geocities.com/wmids_animalaction/

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