Degree Ceremony Demo Report Saturday 23 May 09

Those linked with Oxford University showed, once again, how they seem to be above the law after a man physically attacked a SPEAK supporter and received no repercussions during this demonstration. The attack by the middle aged man on a female senior citizen took place in front of Thames Valley Police officers who did nothing but have a small chat to the man, who was then able to go on his way into the ceremony.

If it had been anyone else hitting out at another person, and most especially if it had been an animal rights person, they would have been arrested for assault immediately, but not, it seems, if you have anything to do with this university.

SPEAK had hoped that the bias shown by TVP on previous occasions would become a thing of the past, but alas they seem determined to be Oxford University’s own private security rather than the public servants they are meant to be. After the outrage caused by the death of a man during the G20 demonstrations in London, police were warned about their behaviour towards protesters, but it seems that this has not prevented officers from turning a blind eye when they want to.

Despite this assault the demonstrations went well, with support from a number of those attending the ceremony as well as many of the tourists and locals. Hundreds of leaflets were handed out to all those who showed concern at the animal suffering caused by the university and who were interested in finding out what they could do to stop it from continuing.

Speeches on the megaphone informed those going past just why the demo was taking place and how more than 16,000 animals are imprisoned inside the university labs at any one time. This huge number of animals being held and experimented on caused outrage to those who had no idea that so much animal abuse went on inside the city of Oxford - a reaction that occurs again and again by those who find it hard to believe that a university with such a reputation for academic excellence, could be involved with such atrocities.