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1st
appeared 15 June 1999
Lab Break-In Followed by Peaceful Protest
Animal rights activists returned to UCSF on Monday after ten protesters were arrested
Sunday for breaking into an animal care facility on campus. The protestors illegally
entered at least two animal care areas, breaking the window of one before being caught by
campus police.
 On Sunday, the demonstrators broke into animal quarters
housing primates used in a hearing loss study. Although approximately 30 people were
thought to have participated in the demonstration, ten were caught. Those arrested all
face criminal charges of trespassing, refusing to leave, and misdemeanor burglary, and
four of them face an additional charge of resisting arrest.
For close to a year, protestors have been demonstrating at UCSF against the use of animals
in research, often targeting a study on hearing loss that uses a small number of squirrel
monkeys. In recent months, demonstrators have threatened the researcher, done thousands of
dollars worth of damage to laboratory equipment and buildings, and terrorized the
researcher's family by setting a fire outside their home and hurling heavy objects through
their windows.
Monday's peaceful demonstration by about 20 activists, as well as Sunday's break-in, were
part of what organizers call the Primate Freedom Tour, described on their website as
"a caravan that will travel across the United States to end the use of non-human
primates in biomedical and scientific experimentation."
Protestors planned to return to UCSF today to continue their demonstrations, which include
an evening candlelight vigil.
UCSF police had anticipated protests this week and so had already planned to heighten
security on the Parnassus campus. Barricades were set up at Medical Center Way &
Parnassus, 4th & Kirkham, and Johnstone & Clarendon on Sunday to control both
vehicle and pedestrian traffic to sensitive areas. UCSF Police officers are screening all
vehicles and personnel at these barricades, which will remain at least through Tuesday,
and are requiring identification from all persons requesting access.
Links:
Hall Explains Value of Animal
Research
Recent Attacks Highlight
Need for Lab Security
Protesters Arrested for
Vandalizing Labs
No, He's Not Spiderman
Source: Paula Murphy, Daybreak
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