Anti-vivisection protest at University of Bradford

Telephone despatch received @ 1510h:

West Yorkshire Animal Rights (WYAR) are currently demonstrating outside the Richmond building, near the entrance, at the University of Bradford.

There are 6 demonstrators present, holding banners and chanting slogans opposing animal testing. The animal testing that continues at the university mostly involves mice and other small animals.

Twenty years ago, a campaign group sucessfully exposed and opposed primate research at the university of Bradford, which was subsequently stopped. However research on small animals has continued to this day. Now WYAR are exposing this research, which many people seem to be unaware of, with the aim of stopping animal experimentation at the university altogether.

Security guards have assembled, about six making their presence obvious and many more lurking behind trees and bushes. The university has sent emails to staff and students telling them to stay away from the protest. One student who tried to approach the protesters today to find out what was happening was stopped and led away by a security guard, clearly showing no respect for the right to free assembly and protest. Photographic and witness evidence of this could be used to bring a legal action against the university under the Human Rights Act.

This protest has been made as part of International Animal Rights Day. Neither the university or the students' union has yet made a comment on today's events.

Further details and photographs to follow.