Degree Day demo report Saturday 13th June, 2009

On Saturday 13th June, 2009, Oxford University bestowed degrees upon another group of graduates and, as ever, SPEAK Campaign supporters were in attendance outside the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street to demand an end to the university’s reliance on, and promotion of, vivisection within its laboratories which sees, at any one time, over 16,000 animals imprisoned, tortured and then killed in hideously cruel experiments.

Oxford was very busy, with graduates and their families, tourists and locals all going about their business and activists wasted no time in setting up their banners, placards and an information stall and employing the megaphone to tell the terrible truth about the suffering inflicted upon vast numbers of innocent, non-consenting, sentient beings inside Oxford’s laboratories and to challenge the ignorance and arrogance of the university. Many leaflets were taken by the public passing by and many people stopped to listen to what was being said and to talk to campaigners, appalled to hear about the barbaric acts of brutality carried out against animals by the university. Again, support was not only received from those passing the Sheldonian, but also from those entering and exiting it, with a large number of leaflets being taken by graduates and their families.

As on other such occasions it was clearly obvious that the university do not like protesters telling the world the truth about their horrific record of animal abuse, nor do they like the fact that many people attending the ceremonies clearly support the campaign’s aims and as has been seen so many times before, their stooges in Thames Valley Police were happy to step up and show their partiality towards Oxford, jumping to do their bidding and attempting (unsuccessfully) to harass and intimidate both law abiding protesters and those simply observing the day’s activities.

The truth is out about Oxford’s cruelty, brutality and lies, and is spreading fast around the world with more and more support for the campaign against them being received every day. The SPEAK Campaign will continue to expose Oxford for what it really is; not a place of academic excellence, but, rather, a place of academic arrogance, cruelty, greed and exploitation, and we will never end our fight against this vile institution until every cage in its laboratories is empty.