California animal researchers protest protesters - April 23, 2009
Researchers and students staged a rally on the UCLA campus yesterday in support of animal research.
The rally was organised by the new University of California, Los Angeles branch of Pro-Test, a UK group founded in Oxford which supports animal research. A group of about 40 animal rights protesters held a rally opposite the Pro-Test event, which attracted over 400 people, according to the Los Angeles Times.
UCLA neuroscientist David Jentsch, the victim of a car bombing last month, founded UCLA Pro-Test. The North American Animal Liberation Press Office posted a 'communiqué' from a group calling itself the Animal Liberation Brigade taking credit for the attack and threatening to harm Jentsch.
"I hope this rally lessens the sense of helplessness and fear that has pervaded our community," Jentsch said (UCLA newsroom). "We’re just not going to take the harassment anymore."
Nature also interviewed him last week.
A member of UCLA's Animal Law Society told a Science reporter that violence gave other animal rights activists "a bad name."
No arrests have been made in the car bombing case yet, though the FBI did report arrests in other animal rights-related cases this week and in February. The FBI is offering a reward of $75,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the Jentsch case.
Video below the fold.
Comments
A UCLA animal rights activist states in the article above "that violence gave other animal rights activists "a bad name."
My response would be why doesn't PETA, the most vocal animal rights organization in the USA, denounce violence by extreme elements? When violent acts occurred against animal researchers at UC Santa Cruz, the Human Society of America openly denounced the violence and actually offered a reward for information--PETA remained silent--and in their silence one can only conclude that PETA condones threats and intimidation as legitimate means to promote their agenda.
Posted by: James Hicks | April 24, 2009 12:50 AM
"I hope this rally lessens the sense of helplessness and fear that has pervaded our community,"
Hopefully, this comment will apply not only to UCLA but to the various places where such terrorist activities have taken place, including UC Berkeley, UCSF, UCSC, Univ of Utah, and Univ of Wisconsin.
Now is the time for the scientific community across the country to defend biomedical research and those under attack. It is time to ask for the commitment of our representatives and demand the security and peace we need to carry out our important work.
Please sign the petition:
www.raisingvoices.net
Posted by: Denis Alexander | April 24, 2009 05:30 AM
James is correct: HSUS is the only animal rights organization that has condemned violent methods.
Although I was not particularly impressed by the couple of thousand dollars the added to the reward, their statement caused Wayne Pacelle to be declared a traitor by largely everyone else in the AR movement -- including PeTA.
The bottom line is that Newkirk has never condemned violent methods, nor did Kathy Guillermo from PeTA who was present at the demonstration, while Michael Budkie who organized it declined to comment on the violence on advise from his lawyer.
In fact, it is easy to find many occasions in which they publicly stated that they "understand the violence".
Next time you donate to PeTA remember: your money may well be used to firebomb a car and kill someone. After all, it is well documented they were financially supporting Rod Coronado.
Posted by: Denis Alexander | April 24, 2009 05:34 PM