Demo Report – Wednesday 23 January

With Speak supporters being as determined as ever to keep the pressure on Oxford University, the impartial facade that Thames Valley Police try to hide behind slips further and further away.

Not content with hassling protesters for doing nothing more than daring to walk inside the exclusion zone (it’s not yet illegal for compassionate people to walk on a pavement, although TVP are probably trying to get this changed), and still not content with taking photos of anyone who gives us their support, TVP are now openly asking the details of those who show an interest in why SPEAK supporters are present and demonstrating against the cruelty carried out by this university.

In what can only be described as a scene from George Orwell's 1984 (complete with Thought Police), those who dared to stop and talk to us were subjected to questioning by police and had their details taken. However, SPEAK carried on peacefully with the demo, ignoring police, and supporters and curious motorists and passersby carried on showing their usual support with little regard to the pathetic attempt by police at scaring people away. Clearly this blatant intimidation will not deter anyone from continuing to fight animal abuse where ever, and whenever it occurs.

The higher you build your barriers - The taller I become, The further you take my rights away - The faster I will run.
-Labi Siffre