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UCLA takes on animal rights activists

Thursday, February 21, 2008
  By Sid Garcia

SANTA MONICA (KABC) -- UCLA administrators are taking on some animal rights activists. The university has gone to court to get a restraining order against some animal rights groups.

Activists are accused of harassing UCLA researchers who conduct experiments using animals.

Lawyers for UCLA say that the harassment has become violent in recent years and wants it to stop. A lawyer for the animal rights activists say they haven't been doing anything illegal.

In a Santa Monica courtroom, lawyers for UCLA argued that animal rights groups -- The Animal Liberation Front, The Animal Liberation Brigade, UCLA Primate Freedom Project and five animal rights activists -- coordinated what they described as terrorist or violent acts against UCLA researchers in recent years.

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"It's time, your honor, for this escalating cycle of threats, intimidation, and violence to be enjoined, to be stopped," said John Hueston, attorney for UCLA. "And we're here today to ask the court for a temporary restraining order on actionable violations of law by people who are engaging in extortion and tactics to force people out of animal research."

The attorney for the animal rights groups and individuals argue that the defendants only conducted legal protests and that they have nothing to do with any violent acts.

"So whereas there are instances of violent activity, illegal activity, there is little, I don't know if there's any evidence in that stack of papers that shows any of these people are involved in that," said David Rutan, animal rights attorney.

The latest attack occurred on Tuesday. The home of UCLA animal researcher Edythe London was fire-bombed. No one was hurt and no one was home at the time. It is the second time her home has been attacked in four months.

Lawyers from both sides will be back in court later Thursday afternoon when the judge will announce his decision.

 

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8 comments
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1
 2/21/08 10:37 AM PST
While it's unfortunate that some people are so frustrated that they resort to illegal activity, I find it utterly offensive and absurd that the same people (UCLA/researchers) that are addicting sentient and self-aware primates to nicotine and METH and then killing them have the audacity to call anyone else violent. Those people that take millions of dollars from Phillip Morris and the taxpayer to carry out true torture are the ones that need to be criminally prosecuted for cruelty and thrown in jail. The real violen... Mark As Violation
 
2
 2/21/08 2:25 PM PST
using animals for research at your university or anywhere else for that matter, is downs right sickening to me, cruel, and barbaric. the real victims here are the helpless, deprived animals. the perverts and predators are the universities, and research labs, they are the criminals, they should be outlawed, or arrested for cruelty and crimes against decency. I have no sympathy for UCLA or it's animal research staff. your Karma will catch up to you, and you will deserve whatever it delivers.I don't know who these anima... Mark As Violation
 
3
 2/21/08 3:05 PM PST
I don't know who these animal groups are, But I do know that GOD will bless them for they are working for those that cannot speak or protest for themselves. Mark As Violation
 
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4
 2/21/08 3:49 PM PST
Don't research on animals is a sin.. Keep up the harassement on these heartless researchers. I praise the activist for being the voice for the innocent animals. How about the researchers do the testing on eachother.  Mark As Violation
 
5
 c16187
 2/21/08 6:01 PM PST
My lab does pediatric cancer research. We use animals in our research because they are absolutely essential. The ignorant animal rights terrorists should be thrown in jail. Animal research is vital to science and without animal research, we will NEVER find effective treatments or cures for cancer, heart diease and all of the other killer diseases that affect humans. You animal rights people are ignorant fools.  Mark As Violation
 
6
 c16187
 2/21/08 6:05 PM PST
Furthermore, animal rights activists should practice what they preach. That means they should not go to ANY physician when they get sick, and they shouldn't use ANY prescribed medication, either. That's because modern medicine and all drug research is built on a foundation of using animals for research. Protest, but don't be hypocrits. When you get cancer or have a heart attack, we don't want to see you in a hospital.  Mark As Violation
 
7
 c16187
 2/21/08 6:08 PM PST
jodi lucas: If you hate us in science and medicine so much, then please never go to a doctor ever again, and don't show up at a hospital if you have an accident or injury. That's because surgeons trained on animals or the techniques they used were developed using animals. Don't take any modern medicine either. You'll get what's coming to you.  Mark As Violation
 
8
 c16187
 2/21/08 6:11 PM PST
mickey rose: Do you go to the doctor? Has anyone you know been treated for hypertention, diabetes, cancer or AIDS? All of these diseases have used animal research and they could not have developed any of the drugs for these conditions without animals.<br/>Please stay away from physicians and hospitals in the future. You should practice what you preach.  Mark As Violation
 
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abc7 News Team

Sid Garcia

Sid Garcia started his broadcasting career in 1983 at KBAK-TV in Bakersfield as an anchor/reporter....