The excellent blog of Oxford-based journalist Kieren McCarthy gives a good flavour of last Saturday’s Pro-Test rally in Oxford. He says
"… even though there were fewer people than the first march, despite it being a beautiful day, there was a real sense of something historic happening…. There was a similar feel at the first march on 26 February, but the sense that time was that this was the first time people had publicly stood up for animal testing. On 3 June, that change had come - wide media attention, GlaxoSmithKline publicly stating its support for animal testing, the prime minister himself signing a petition - and there was instead a collective sense of excitement that the movement had achieved so much in such a short period of time."
Many pictures and speeches later (you can listen to the mp3 files on his blog), and despite his reservations about animal research, Kieren Mcarthy concludes:
"… a roll-call of people to thank which was actually when the feeling of history in the making became almost palpable. The large number of people that had come together and defied the difficulty of the subject, and the very high risk of threats and intimidation from the animal rights protestors. A real sense of people having stood up for their rights and it having worked beyond anyone’s wildest dreams."
Exploring the blog further, I came across his entry on the recent injunction against the animal rights extremists obtained by Oxford University. His view of the animal rights group SPEAK stands in sharp contrast to his view of Pro-Test:
"… I have grown increasingly of the view that SPEAK has virtually lost its legitimacy as a protesting group. There appears to be very little substance in its allegations, it relies on unthinking and emotive language to rally support, it fails to engage in proper debate, and as support for it has ebbed and turned into virtual hostility by the residents of Oxford, it has turned inward, relying on the aggressive oratory of a single man - Mel Broughton - and feeding off the buzz of intimidation.
As much as I hate to agree with any restrictions on free speech, I find myself agreeing with the restrictions put on the group. SPEAK still has the rights to a weekly protest at the site and a monthly opportunity to walk through the streets of Oxford. Good. It’s probably more that they deserve."
<Wrap up...>
