A STATEMENT FROM THE SPEAK CO-FOUNDERS

BACKGROUND TO THE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

DEMO 1st FEBRUARY
9:30 AM
High Court, The Strand

Travel Details

SPEAK are calling on their supporters to turn up in force on the 1st February at the High Court to send a loud and clear message to Oxford University that their abuse of the legal system to attempt to suppress our civil liberties and freedom to speak out will only end in failure. It’s important that we stand united as a movement and oppose the university’s attempts to have people imprisoned, not because they have broken any laws, but because Robert Cogswell and Mel Broughton have highlighted the university’s lies, exposed their abuse of animals, and stood up to their bullying tactics.

Don’t forget, today it might be the co-founders of SPEAK facing prison but if as a movement we don’t stand up to such repression, then tomorrow it could just as easily be anyone in the movement who has dared to speak the truth.

In some ways, Oxford University’s status as one of the oldest institution’s of learning ensured that it remained unchallenged and avoided scrutiny until the emergence of SPEAK almost three years ago. As a result, they were suddenly forced to take defensive measures in response to being repeatedly exposed, either for malpractice in the laboratory, for lies about their laboratory development project, or for placing money and profits before morals and ethics (see Vioxx, Mercenaries). Little wonder that they have resorted to desperate tactics to try and silence the campaign that has been so outspoken in its condemnation of the shady goings on of this supposed august institution.

Their tactics have proved that money and power don’t necessarily buy common sense or an understanding of human behaviour: they are mistaken if they believe that the temporary removal of two of SPEAK’s founders will somehow stop or hamper the campaign. What the university has failed to grasp is that the more they try to suppress us the more support we get, and the more determined we become to oppose and stop the torture and abuse of non human animals at the university for good. Their latest attempts at repression have simply afforded SPEAK with further opportunities to show them up for what they are.

Oxford University have no understanding of the history of protest in this country. Distinguished and courageous men and women throughout history laid down their lives and have been willing to go to prison so that true democratic rights would be allowed to flourish in this country. It is our right to speak the truth, not a privilege, as Oxford University would like it to be. The university believe that only those that agree with them should be allowed the right to speak up and speak out. We are here to prove them wrong. We are here to bring them into the modern era. We are here to tell them we have no intention of going away or of being silent or of allowing them to have carte blanche to continue to torture and abuse animals in ever greater numbers.

Let’s ensure that the 1st February is a day the university will remember. Let’s send them a clear message that their animal abusing days are numbered. And let’s remember their victims – the animals for whom we are fighting – animals like Felix, who is doomed to suffer and die incarcerated in Oxford University’s laboratories if we fail to stop them. No matter what the outcome at the High Court, the campaign must continue.

Please bring banners, whistles, drums and anything else you think is suitable for the demonstration and let’s make sure that the High Court has never seen anything quite like it. Let's make this a day Oxford University will never forget.

Thank you for your support.

Together we can and will win.