1,000 March & Rally against Torture Lab in Oxford

As was widely expected, this National Demo against Oxford Uni`s half built lab, was the biggest and best to date!!

posted 27-7-05

On Saturday 23rd July 2005, campaigners from all round the country descended on Oxford for what was by far the biggest national march & rally so far in the campaign. From the West Midlands, a coach bursting at the seams and at least 10 car loads, made the journey to demand that Oxford Uni pull the plug on their new deathcamp for animals. At least a dozen stalls were set up when we arrived, full of merchandise, food & other vegan goodies etc. After an hour or so stocking up on campaign materials, we listened to some fantastic speakers including Mel Broughton(pictured) from the SPEAK Campaign.

After about an hour listening to some really inspirational speeches, the march began. As we headed into the city centre, the crowd erupted with chanting, reminding the many 1,000`s of people on the streets why we were there. Those looking on were left in no doubt that we are committed to stopping this lab from ever being built, for the sake of animals and human beings alike. Many 1,000`s of leaflets were distributed, giving people all the facts about the human cost of vivisection and therefore why they should care as much as we do.

As you would expect, police officers were there in high numbers, marching alongside us, blocking off roads they didn`t want us to go down and filming everyone who dared to speak out against the horrors of the government supported vivisection industry. This photo shows how `evidence gatherers` mingled with tourists on this open top sightseeing bus, eager to get some good footage of anti-vivisectionists marching down the road!! It never ceases to amaze us how much money they waste policing peaceful protesters whilst real terrorists, both in London and in laboratories, get away with murder!!!

The march continued through the busy city centre streets towards the site of the half built lab on South Parks Road. When we arrived at the lab site, it felt great to see the building at the same stage of construction as it was a year ago!! No building work has taken place, since the original construction firm pulled out after pressure from campaigners!! Despite this major setback, Oxford Uni say they will be completing the lab, and that work will restart soon! Not if SPEAK has anything to do with it!!!

Marchers gathered opposite the lab site and listened to more inspirational speakers. During one of the speeches, protesters were asked to turn round and face the lab, and a 2 minute silence was held for all the victims(past, present and future) of Oxford Uni. Whilst this silence was going on, Nancy Phipps(Jill`s mother, see below) layed a wreath next to the site, in memory of all those suffering animals. The march set off again back through the city centre, towards Oxpens Park where we started from. As we walked through one of the busiest streets, all marchers fell completely silent, which was more effective at getting the publics attention than making loads of noise!! Throughout the march, campaigners from the West Midlands carried a large banner in memory of animal rights activist Jill Phipps(Nancy`s daughter). Jill was tragically killed whilst protesting against the live export of baby calves from Coventry Airport 10 years ago!! Jill`s Day 2005 was the amazing 10th anniversary tribute event in Coventry, click the link above for more info and for photos of the event, incl the banner.

This latest march & rally was a great success, bringing together once again, compassionate people from across the country in opposition to the animal hellhole that Oxford University would like to build. We hope that they ditch their plans, so that it won`t be necessary to march again, but we are as determined as ever that if building resumes, we will not stand by whilst they conspire to commit evil attrocities in the name of `science`.

Click on the SPEAK logo to go to the SPEAK Campaigns website where you`ll find loads more info about how you can get involved in the campaign to stop the Oxford lab.

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