The
politically motivated arrests of 30 animal rights campaigners on May 1st
2007 by ‘over 700’ police officers is the but the latest indication
of the extremes this government will go to try and appease the pharmaceutical
giants.
One man had his collar bone broken, dogs were released onto the streets
as doors were smashed in and non violent people handcuffed and locked in
cells, in response to what? Violent attacks on researchers? Firebombings?
Nothing of the sort. Protesting. Simply public protests involving megaphones,
whistles and placards and a stated determination to end vivisection at Huntingdon
Life Sciences.
Today two of those arrested, Greg and Natasha Avery, have been remanded
into custody charged with conspiracy to blackmail ie campaigning to close
the monstrous HLS between 1999 to the point of arrest. Heather James is
still being questioned and will likely be remanded Monday. These are those
central to the campaign. Everyone else bar one has been released mostly
without charge except for those considered most closely associated with
the campaign who are likewise charged with conspiracy to blackmail and bailed
on condition they have no contact with other activists, their friends. Few
if any of those arrested have been asked about any criminal offences only
of their role as campaigners. Nine charged with conspiracy, two with specific
offences of blackmail. www.vpsg.org
Ongoing campaigns by activists against those who use extreme violence against
the weakest and most vulnerable in our society have had a stunning impact
on the once secretive world of those who do animal research and testing.
Endless exposes by activists have shown to the world the terrible violence
inflicted on live animals in the name of profit and a hopeless search for
miracle cures. These are the reasons why the might of the state is trying
to silence vivisection's vocal opponents. A simple independent inquiry into
this whole area of animal testing would solve the many problems it has given
us - the dangerous drugs and poisonous chemicals we're surrounded by, the
millions of tortured souls dying in the secret government sponsored labs,
the paint strippered cars and the public protests that cause those in industry
their 'fear'.
Hundreds of police officers smashing up animal rescue centres, violently
attacking innocent people, confiscating computers and detaining opponents
of vivisection is not what the public want of their police. At a time when
we are said to be under threat from religious fanatics intent on mass murder,
when street crime increases and violent physical attacks by hunt supporters
and others go undetected it seems perverse that such resources can be made
available to mighty industry.
It seems unlikely that silencing public displays of opposition to the disaster
of vivisection will solve any of these problems. But is it what we want
our society to be, where its leaders utilise the police so wholeheartedly
to crush dissent at the whim of corporate concerns? If history is any indication
this is unlikely to be the last we've heard from the protestors.
Huntingdon Life Sciences are $100 million in debt they have no banking facilities
but for the Bank of England and are insured by the UK tax payer. They are
hated by everyone. No matter how many opponents of their vile business are
imprisoned and harassed there are many more who pledge to close them down.
There may well be a few good people locked in prison cells but there are
many who aren't. The end of the story? For HLS all the indicators are it's
very close. www.shac.net
Mob
Attack SHAC
From
Dusk 'til Dawn
An Insider's View of the Growth of the Animal Liberation Movement
