Dishonourable Ceremony

Encaenia Ceremony Demo -29 June 2011

Every single year Oxford University bestows honorary degrees on those who have tormented and killed animals, and this year’s Encaenia Ceremony was no different. However, the SPEAK supporters present made sure that all those both taking part and attending the ceremony were made aware that such practices are not acceptable.

                                                                                            

It was a beautiful day for a demo, with the streets of Oxford busy with people shopping, visiting and those attending the ceremony, which is one of the most prestigious events in the university's calendar. Activists armed with banners and placards covered the two entrances to the Sheldonion Theatre and with lots of chanting on the megaohone those entering the theatre were reminded what Oxford University gets up to behind the closed doors of the animal labs.

                                                                                      

As the procession approached, activists erected banners where the honorary degree receivers couldn’t fail to see them, while the chanting echoed loud and clear around them. One University person approached the police to complain about the noise and tried to claim that students were sitting exams – a similar approach that was tried against the demonstration in 2006, although it later became apparent in court that exams aren’t held in that vicinity and that it was a blatant lie. A lie they thought they’d try to repeat this year, though with little effect.

                                                                                    

One of the dignitaries’s accepting an honorary degree was the President of Italy, which resulted in an excess of blatant secret service looking types driving a fleet of expensive cars that stuck out like sore thumbs. Unfortunately they seemed confused by the layout of the city and the whole fleet took a wrong turn down Catte Street before they all had to 3 point turns, one after the other, as they reached the dead end.

                                                                                 

After the ceremony, the procession left the Sheldonian theatre and a hush swept over the small gathered crowd - perfect timing for SPEAK supporters to begin shouting reminders of the things the university doesn't want people to know. Everyone there could hear the cries of 'Shame on Oxford University, blood on their hands' and 'Close the Oxford animal laboratories'.

                                                                                                     

There was great support for the demonstration, with one attendee of the ceremony approaching the activists afterwards to thank everyone for being there. He said it was important for people to constantly remind the University that they are just prostituting themselves for big money, with the animals suffering the consequences.

                                                                                             

Every year there seems to be less of a crowd of people standing around to watch the whole charade, and it was very noticeable this year. Almost as if this institution has lost the reputation as a place of academic excellence it once used to hold and is now seen as a pariah, responsible for the painful deaths of tens of thousands of innocent animals every year.

                                                                                        

Our message to Oxford University is very clear – You cannot escape us. Every time you try to impress we'll be there to shame you and remind people about your 'prostituting' yourself.