100 global animal activists march through Oxford

Saturday saw a truly global collection of protestors add their voices in opposition to the animal laboratory being built by Oxford University, with up to ten different nationalities in town to demonstrate. Two groups of 50 people each assembled at different sides of the city, one group going to Martyr's Memorial at St Giles, the second to the roundabout at the Plain. At both places they were vocal and visible, informing large of passing traffic about the laboratory.

The police seemed to have been caught out by the demonstration as it was not advertised widely. Several officers stuck to known activists at the railway station while the two demonstrations had only a couple of coppers with them. While the first group moved directly to outside the exclusion zone on South Parks Road where the laboratory is, the second group had a different agenda. They occupied the High Street on a march into town. With only two police with them they had an open choice of routes and merrily took them chanting all the way.

After months of police dictating to protestors where they could go, trying to hide them out of sight and meeting them with violence and repression, the protestors were in no mood to be out sight yet again. The police have always denied animal campaigners the right to march through the pedestrian Cornmarket area, claiming disruption to local business and so on, despite other groups being allowed. It has, however, been clear that there is an agenda to suppress animal rights from being visible in the city. This time, with only two police at the back, Cornmarket was finally reclaimed by fifty people with banners, posters and considerable chanting. Their presence could not be missed, and there was clapping from the public.

Following their march through town, they joined up with the other group of protestors, again marching down the road through Broad Street, Parks Road and South Parks Road, demonstrating discipline and determination. At the edge of the exclusion zone there were speeches. People were reminded about the hideous fate of the primate “George”, blinded by Professor Edmund Rolls, who joked about the experiments he carried out on the unfortunate animal. “George” is but one example of thousands of animals who have suffered similar pointless fate for a dubious science. A day of action has been called for 22nd July in memory of “George”, with people encouraged to come to Oxford and take their own autonomous actions across the university.

Finally, the protestors, in excellent spirits, despite having been chanting for several hours in hot sun, marched back to Martyrs' Memorial to finish the day off.

Those of the activists who have been demonstrating at the laboratory more than twice a week for the last two years came away feeling rejuvenated and elated at the success of the day. Although it seems a small thing to be claiming a victory for, marching through the streets on our terms, in particular Cornmarket, was an important psychological step for the right to protest in Oxford.

Last week the police beat people up, this week the protestors were back, and showed that they were a match for what ever is thrown at them. What was more, is that the rug has been pulled out of much of the evidence the police and University has been dependant on in order to get their draconian injunctions with their severe limits on the right to protest. They argue constantly that the protestors are a dangerous violent group, yet here was fifty people marching on their own route through town with essentially non-existent police presence, being exceptionally well-behaved and peaceful manner, communicating with the public about the laboratory and the wrongs of animal research.

What was clear from the spontaneousness of the day was that the campaigners against the animal lab have not been cowed. Their fighting spirit is still strong. Now it remains to be seen whether the University or animal testing lobby group Pro-Test can strike back with anything better.