Two arrests in two days as Gloucestershire anti protest police crackdown on activism.

Friday 24th Two activists from Gloucestershire Animal Action were holding an information stall in Stroud when they were approached by a police officer. His attitude towards the two individuals became immediately obvious when he began the “anything to shut us down and shut us up” routine and proceeded with comments such as “You are blocking the public highway” As the pictures clearly show, the activists clearly were not blocking anything and were set up outside an empty shop. The statements continued; “We could do you for littering…”?! They were really clutching at straws at this point and stated “We have had complaints about the imagery on the front of your stall and we want your details. The activists replied “I would rather not give my details, Have I been anti social?”, “No, but we believe you have committed the offence of blocking the public highway”, the police then warned the activists of impending arrest and told them to stop taking photographs on a camera phone. When one continued to refuse to provide his details (as is his legal right to decline such information) the PC moved in for the arrest whereupon the activist went limp and fell to the floor.

The activist was then dragged into a vehicle by four police whist angry members of the public shouted at police to protest the obvious police bullying and intimidation. The Mayor of Stroud who was bystanding during the arrest was horrified and joined onlookers in contempt for the illegal arrest. We were later informed that the mayor apparently reprimanded the police for their extreme tactics against freedom of expression.

After arriving at the police station the activist was interviewed during which an officer admitted the interview was only “to cover his back” in regards to his use of force. After a half arsed apology the activist was released from custody with “No further action”. Needless to say the police apology does not mark the end of this situation and legal action against the force and officers in question will (as always) be the next step in this ordeal. Local press were present during the whole ordeal and said the arrest had a very good chance of making front page news as the force used by the police was so excessive and many onlookers were distressed by such brutality.

Saturday 25th was another scorcher as a demonstration started against Thomas Cook (against their support of the import of wild primates from the island of Mauritius) at around midday opposite Gloucestershire Animal Action’s information stall. After a few minutes a female staff member came out and told the lone activist who was handing out leaflets to members of the public “It is illegal to protest outside here, move away or I will have you arrested.” To which the activist replied, “I think you should phone the police as you obviously have no clue about the law.” She then retreated back into the shop and around an hour later, the police community support officers are on site informing us that “you need a permit to hand out leaflets from the council” to which we responded; “only if we are selling something or touting for business which we aren’t, do we need a permit: This excludes religious or political leafleting.” She then asked for the activists details and the activist refused as he had not broken the law or been anti-social once during the protest. “It doesn’t matter,” she (PCSO 9118) said. “Are you refusing to give your details then.” The activist replied: “Yes, I only need to give them if I have been anti social and I haven’t”, To which PCSO 9118 stated “OK, you will be arrested then” and called for back up. Ten minutes later a male officer, PC 1931 and Sergeant 1958 (all pictured below) arrive at the scene and enter the shop after asking If anyone has been inside to which the activist responds: “No, you have been watching on CCTV so you know that.” Moments later the Sergeant calls in the PC, exits and proceeds to inform the activist that he is being arrested under Section 5 of the public order act. The activist then sits down on the floor and goes limp. Handcuffs are then produced and placed on the activist, who is then asked by the PC: “Are you going to resist?” The activivist replied “No.” (Passive resistance is not resisting arrest; you are fully within your rights to go limp when officers try to arrest you) the male PC then twists the cuffs causing a cut on the wrists of the activist and considerable bruising after the veins are broken. The officers then call for back up as it is apparent they will not be able to lift an 18+ stone man into a police car by themselves, even if they are resulting to assault to get him in the car. Minutes later two male police officers (Pictured – ID numbers needed) they lift the activist once and after failing the older grey haired cop decided to pinch with his nails the inside of the activists arm leaving an 11cm bruise (which has been documented by a police doctor – if you are injured during an arrest by a cop always ask for a doctor at the station. It is your legal right to ask and be seen by one). The activist was finally pushed into the car with crowd of around 100 people shouting at officers for not doing real police work and stopping peaceful protest and cheering for the activist who had a good chance to let the crowd know why he was being arrested during the whole ordeal.
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Gloucestershire isn’t becoming a Police state it already is.

Notes for editors:

Ten animal rights activists have been arrested in Gloucestershire in the last 12 months spanning 17 arrests.~

(c) Gloucestershire Animal Action – Please ask for permission before you use the pics

Foie Gras – A report from the frontlines

We apologise for the lack of updates but we have been on the Foie Gras frontlines literally over the past weeks with only two days rest. We have been relentless in our resolve for the ducks and geese that are tortured for the vile Foie Gras industry.

Unsurprisingly the police and NETCU have been rather unrelenting as well during our lawful protests making six wrongful arrests on two occasions for supposed tresspass / breach of the peace etc. We had a sergeant shoulder barge one young protester for looking through the window of the police car. We have been moved away using Section 14 notices, we have been told we would be nicked and “I don’t need evidence I just need reasonable suspicion” (this is right but knowing full well we haven’t broken the law makes this a bit of an threat). We have been told to “Grow up, animals will always be used and we can’t stop it” by a custody sergeant. Not to mention being told by two cops on separate occasions “We WILL stop your protests you know”. Better get an armed response unit out quick because you will have to pry MY placard from my death grip.

Anyway we don’t want to concentrate on the cops, they will be self-”cop”ulating over the idea of being mentioned on the internet as it is.

Our protests at the Queens Hotel have a history, for those of you we started protests around a year and a half ago but the protests were few and far between as our group were concentrating on fur campaigning during this time. It took around 8 protests without a break for them to question whether it is really worth losing customers over one item on the menu. A constant police presence further enhanced the effect of our protests reducing the Queens to the status of a grotty bed and breakfast in Blackpool rather than the pride of Cheltenham Spa. They definitely tried every trick in the book to stop the protests they lied to the police telling them a protester entered the hotel and started harassing staff (which resulted in five arrested) and they told one protester “I could kill you like that” (snapping fingers). But eventually they took down the menu and we received confirmation via email that they had permanently removed Foie Gras from the menu.

During our protests at the Queens to keep the local law keepers on their toes we broke away to give our friends at Lumiere some attention. After three days of returning and countless apologies and free bottles of wine to their patrons and a year after the chef cooked “Foie Gras” for protesters to try and then attempted to throw it at protesters (he was then reprimanded by the police), the owner approached activists with a statement “Foie gras has been permanently removed from our menus”.

La Scala and Merlot Brassiere are literally opposite each other, unluckily for both of these businesses (and the ducks and geese who suffer for Foie Gras) road names aren’t the only thing they have in common, they both serve(d) Foie gras. We try to focus our protests at these two businesses on Saturdays as they are closed most evenings when the majority of our protests take place. After around seven protests La Scala informed us that they had permanently removed Foie Gras from the menu as a result of the protests. Unfortunately Merlot continues to sell Foie Gras – Contact details below.

Yesterday (17th July 2007) saw Hotel on the Park receive their first protest, they were very understanding and removed the menu and have now confirmed the removal of foie gras from the menus via email – many thanks to them.

Protests at Monty’s and the George Hotel in Cheltenham are ongoing and they have received half a dozen protests so far with many free bottles of wine being offered because of the protesters causing such a “disturbance”. They produced yesterday a letter saying the are now serving Foie Gras from “Free range” ducks (not geese because that is apparently more cruel?!) that are NOT FORCE FED!?!?!! Had they said they had sourced the Foie Gras from Spain we might have been more convinced, but they confirmed it was a French supplier.

Foie gras (French for “fat liver”) is “the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened by gavage” (as defined by French law [1]).

[1] French rural code L654-27-1: “On entend par foie gras, le foie d’un canard ou d’une oie spécialement engraissé par gavage.” (“By “foie gras” one is to understand the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened by gavage”).

During one protest at Monty’s and the George police seized a banner that read “SERVING DISEASED MEAT” although Foie gras literally is diseased meat (liver disease – hepatic lipidosis). The police said our text only banner had “Caused alarm and distress”. Even if it is totally true. We continued to inform the public loudly that they are serving diseased meat which may have been prepared next to the meals they were eating.

Bistro Scena have had a fair few protests outside and the tiny French fellow and tall chef always like to make a comment or try to humiliate themselves in front of the restaurant patrons. On one occasion last week they managed to exit the restaurant and attack our group in front of two dinners who were wholly supportive of our campaign. Needless to say for a dinner to break up a brawl between activists and restaurant staff showed the level of stupidity they are serving at this particular place. What caused the battle to ensue? The petite owner of Bistro Scena decided he could threaten a younger member of the group to stop the protest and was filmed, when he realised his actions were being recorded he lunged at the person filming and went into a frenzied attack… no doubt fearful that the police might not like his threatening behaviour.

Anyway the battle continues on the Foie Gras frontline. More info coming soon…

So far we have received confirmation from: Queens Hotel, Lumiere, La Scala, Frere Jacques.

Watch this space…

Chris

Please Contact the following businesses using the details below.

Merlot Brasserie
merlotbrasserie@hotmail.co.uk
phone: 01242 574008

Monty’s Brasserie
hotel@stayatthegeorge.co.uk
Phone: 01242 227678

Bistro Scena
info@bistro-scena.co.uk
Phone: 01242 238134

Cheltenham Hamper Company
sales@cheltenhamhampers.com
Phone: 0870 203 3000

Kandinsky
kandinsky@aliashotels.com
Phone: 01242 527788

Le Champignon Sauvage
mail@lechampignonsauvage.co.uk
Phone: 01242 573449

The Daffodil
eat@thedaffodil.com
01242 700055

All emails:

merlotbrasserie@hotmail.co.uk; hotel@stayatthegeorge.co.uk; info@bistro-scena.co.uk; sales@cheltenhamhampers.com; kandinsky@aliashotels.com; mail@lechampignonsauvage.co.uk; eat@thedaffodil.com

(Please be lawful in your communications – it does nothing for animals if you are aggressive or threatening)

Five wrongful arrests during peaceful foie gras protest at the Queens Hotel

Five activists from Gloucestershire Animal Action were arrested on Tuesday 27th June during a peaceful demonstration outside the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Two undercover police officers were on site from 5pm and a uniformed police officer was on site at around 5:30pm to tell the protesters to be quiet during the demonstration and to inform us we were not allowed to use a megaphone on our demonstration (so we ceased its use and used our voices which the sergeant was ok with…). Being so diplomatic he used the amusing phrase “I’ve got plenty of empty cells and I’d gladly fill them up with you lot!”, It would seem it doesn’t matter if we have broken the law or not does it?

We then moved on to Lumiere for a lively protest during which time the manageress told us she was phoning the police… Oh NO… not more wasting of police time! No police were forthcoming on this occasion and many complimentary bottles of wine were given out to dinners to apologise for the protest.

At around 7:30 we returned to the Queens Hotel for more protest, everything was peaceful the guests were more than happy to take leaflets and agreed with out sentiments 99% of the time. At around 8pm sirens were heard closing in… Five police cars and a police van arrived with around 12-13 very purposeful looking public “servants” flying towards us telling us we had been inside the hotel… We had not entered and had no reason to talk with staff inside or outside.

The police confirmed they had reports of a female entering which fitted the description of one of our group and we were summarily arrested under Section 5 of the public order act. On exit of the police van one of our activists hit her head on the roof and was smirked at by a particularly ugly copper.

We were held in the booking in room for a while as we were checked in one at the time… during which time the megaphone siren decided to go off to the shock of everyone at the cop shop… It was funny though

At around 2am we were released without charge and given the following speech by some arse of a copper who clearly was a right wing pillock.

(Paraphrased) You lot need to grow up, people are always going to use animals… thats what they are for youll never stop it.

At which point I envisioned him in a 60s style uniform talking to a young black kid whom he had beaten badly saying its nothing personal its just the colour of your skin…

I politely told him, thanks for the speech but while people exploit other life or the environment we will always be here protesting.

During our time in the cells, one activist was denied medical care after requesting it. 3 activists denied food and water.

No apologies were forthcoming. We will be pursuing a claim ASAP and complaints will be made via the IPCC.

Please check out this video about Foie Gras…

Thanks

Chris

Open letter of complaint to the Cheltenham Science Festival organisers.

An open letter to the organisers of the Cheltenham Science Festival.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to complain regarding the ill treatment of a number of my colleagues on Friday 8th June during a talk at the Science Festival by Tipu Aziz and Mary Baker on Deep Brain Stimulation.

I hope you might agree that asking questions and engaging in debate is a healthy social conduct that should be encouraged, especially to the 16,000 students and members of the public that attend the Cheltenham Science Festival.

If this is the case I find myself wondering why those who attended on behalf of Dr Claude Reiss PHD (a Parkinson’s researcher from France) were forcibly ejected from the hall after waiting patiently to ask reasonable questions to Aziz?

At one point I saw a member of your staff tell security to apprehend a person MID QUESTION!

Please can you explain why you felt the need to silence these people and their questions? They were asked what their questions were and they responded in a polite manner.

Here is the first question asked by someone whom attended.

“The Oxford Student, 21st Jan 2007, contained an article in which you state: “I was central to discovering the Subthalamic nucleus as a target for Deep Brain Stimulation”. However, according to neurosurgeon Dr Marius Maxwell, the first paper published on the role of the STN did not involve you at all, but Bergman, Wichmann, DeLong. Science 249 (4979) 1436-8,1990 Sep 21.

Here is what the author of our leaflet, Dr Claude Reiss, has to say about this area: “Although it is true that the application of Deep Brain Stimulation to the subthalamic nucleus has been suggested by experiments in MPTP monkeys, the application of Deep Brain Stimulation to PD sufferers was rapidly promoted following the discovery of the Benabid team, through human surgery. There is no doubt that the benefit of subthalamic nucleus stimulation would have been have been found without monkey experiments”.

At this point Mary Baker decided to interrupt. “Do you actually have a question??”. – She wasn’t rude enough to interrupt any non animal research related questions.

“Yes – Given all of the above, how can you justify the vast research grants which continue to divert funds towards monkeys, instead of human patients”?

And what was Tipu Aziz’s response to this question?

“Yes”

Here is the second question asked by an anti vivisectionist during the allotted “question time”.

“On the BBC’s recent documentary “Monkeys Rats and Me”, with reference to Felix, the macaque monkey, you said, and I quote: pain “is not part of the process of my research”. However Oxford University has disclosed that your research has been classified in the most severe category – substantial – which involves “significant morbidity”, a “major departure from the animals’ usual wellbeing”, and welfare that is “seriously compromised”, as defined by the Guidance on the Operation of the ASPA 1986. Can you explain this apparent contradiction and how do you respond to the charge that you are incapable of fulfilling…”

At this point a member of your staff points at the activist mid question and police and security move towards him.

“…the duties of a licence holder because you are incapable of recognising the adverse effects suffered by Felix, and others, in your experiments.”

He finishes his question and is lifted to his feet by two security.

Tipu Aziz’ response was “I research Parkinson’s, not pain”.

I am saddened that the Science Festival does not welcome those who oppose animal research yet welcome funding from companies such as Pfizer who are due to enter court for using third world children in clinical trials which resulted in a number of deaths after they were given experimental drugs. Tipu Aziz who is a “scientist” who partakes in flawed animal research in order to keep the research grants flowing, Colin Blakemore of the Medical Research Council who shot to notoriety after being filmed sewing kittens eyes shut from birth, QinetiQ who use animals to test their human killing war devices.

The list goes on, this leads me to think that the festival will accept money from literally anyone regardless of the human, animal or environmental cost.

These companies that have together taken so many lives and caused so much ecological destruction you welcome with open arms to talk to the future adults whilst preventing any other viewpoint from being expressed.

Please attempt to use your conscience when planning the next Science Festival, maybe you could invite those involved with developing life saving techniques using humans instead of those who have cured the most mice of cancer.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email,

Chris – Gloucestershire Animal Action

Cheltenham Science Festival, Tipu Aziz and the Orwellian nightmare come true!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Cheltenham Science Festival, Tipu Aziz and the Orwellian nightmare come true!

Around twenty activists ranging from human and animal rights advocates to the anti arms trade contingent attended a demonstration against the Cheltenham Science Festival on Friday 8th June, amongst the protesters, representatives of Dr Claude Reiss PHD who is a top Parkinson’s researcher from France.

The police presence was very prominent (around 40 police officers). before the demonstration had started a few activists were followed and filmed by police whilst sitting in the town centre this included a young girl of around 6-7 years of age who wanted to hold the placard up and show people, she was then followed when she tried to leave by an officer with video camera at the dismay of her parents.

It was made clear from the outset that the demonstration was to focus on human science and medical facts as the case against research using animals and Tipu Aziz’s role in the development of DBS is solid scientifically. So no pictures of animals were displayed during the demonstration. Gloucestershire Animal Action focused on issues relating to the main festival sponsor Pfizer’s illegal clinical trials using third world children to test experimental drugs and the fact that millions are put into animal research whist hospitals are shutting due to NHS cutbacks.

Twelve tickets in total were purchased for Tipu Aziz’s talk and after much fuss the management decided they would let us in only after rigorous searching from police and security staff who took literally every item out and confiscated water, leaflets and various other items which presumably might cause a problem during the talk.

A representative of Dr Reiss PHD took to the stage just before the speakers entered the arena, the crowd looked on as she introduced herself on behalf of Dr Reiss whom couldn’t attend the festival, she then started to tell the crowd that we were there to oppose Aziz’s supposed role in the research and discovery of the Subthalamic Nucleus and the DBS technique, she had barely finished her sentence when she was literally picked up off the floor by a member of the private security and taken out of the building, not before asking members of the public to take a leaflet on the way out. One activist tried to intervene only to be told by an undercover police officer to “shut the f**k up”.

The talk started with Mary Baker from the Parkinson’s Disease Association introducing the other speakers Tipu Aziz and patient Mike Robins and Martin Westall who’s daughter can now walk thanks to deep brain stimulation.

Aziz took to the stage first and spoke for ten minutes without mentioning his research one bit, purely telling the audience how the technique works in humans. He was shortly followed by Mike Robins who referred to Aziz as a “god”. Martin Westall then took to the stage and gave a moving account of how his wife and daughter were given their lives back by DBS.

The hall was the handed over to the crowd for questions, Aziz was then unlucky enough to give the first question to an activist from Gloucestershire Animal Action who asked the following question:

“The Oxford Student, 21st Jan 2007, contained an article in which you state: “I was central to discovering the Subthalamic nucleus as a target for Deep Brain Stimulation”. However, according to neurosurgeon Dr Marius Maxwell, the first paper published on the role of the STN did not involve you at all, but Bergman, Wichmann, DeLong. Science 249 (4979) 1436-8,1990 Sep 21.

Here is what the author of our leaflet, Dr Claude Reiss, has to say about this area: “Although it is true that the application of Deep Brain Stimulation to the subthalamic nucleus has been suggested by experiments in MPTP monkeys, the application of Deep Brain Stimulation to PD sufferers was rapidly promoted following the discovery of the Benabid team, through human surgery. There is no doubt that the benefit of subthalamic nucleus stimulation would have been have been found without monkey experiments”.

At this point Mary Baker decided to interrupt. “Do you actually have a question??”. – She wasn’t rude enough to interrupt any non animal research related questions.

“Yes – Given all of the above, how can you justify the vast research grants which continue to divert funds towards monkeys, instead of human patients”?

And what was Tipu Aziz’s response to this question?

“Yes”

You don’t have to be a Neurosurgeon to realise that you cannot answer a question which starts “How” with the word “Yes”.

Activist: “Are you not going to answer my question?”

At this point Mary Baker tells the activist “I’m sure Professor Aziz will be glad to answer your question after the talk”.

The questions continue when a member of the audience not with the anti vivisection group asked “Is it really necessary to test on animals?” to which Aziz replies “Not in its entirety”… By now Aziz is looking nervous and on edge touching his face and moustache looking very uncomfortable.

More questions are asked by the audience regarding various other areas of DBS including its other applications and the cost (which is very high – maybe if research grants were available to researchers using human patients it might be more widely available and more cost effective).

The next question was asked by another member of the anti vivisection group and none of us expected what happened next.

“On the BBC’s recent documentary “Monkeys Rats and Me”, with reference to Felix, the macaque monkey, you said, and I quote: pain “is not part of the process of my research”. However Oxford University has disclosed that your research has been classified in the most severe category – substantial – which involves “significant morbidity”, a “major departure from the animals’ usual wellbeing”, and welfare that is “seriously compromised”, as defined by the Guidance on the Operation of the ASPA 1986. Can you explain this apparent contradiction and how do you respond to the charge that you are incapable of fulfilling…”

At this point a member of the Cheltenham Festival points at the activist mid question and police and security move towards him.

“…the duties of a licence holder because you are incapable of recognising the adverse effects suffered by Felix, and others, in your experiments.”

He finishes his question and is lifted to his feet by two security.

Tipu Aziz’ response was “I research Parkinson’s, not pain”.

The activist is then dragged from the hall he shouts “Fraud!” as he is manhandled. Outside he is asked for his name and address, he refuses point blank (he had not committed a crime and had no obligation to give his details.) he is then arrested and taken to Cheltenham Police station and charged with a “section 50″ offence.

The questions are rounded off by Mary Baker and an activist attending his first demonstration attempts to ask a final question and is forcibly removed, the first activist asks Baker and Aziz, why they are physically having anyone removed who opposes their research. No comments. They are escorted from the room.

Outside, the crowd from the Aziz talk are taking leaflets and talking with activists about the shocking treatment of the individuals inside. A member of Gloucestershire Animal Action approaches the undercover police officer who told him to “shut the f*** up” with Dictaphone in pocket asks for his police number in order to make a complaint which he declines to give (this is illegal).

Friday was a fantastic day for the anti vivisection movement, which saw Tipu Aziz stumped by activists which no previous experience with debate or public speaking. It also proved the lengths at which the vivisection industry and its supporters are willing to go in order to prevent the public debate they say that we are incapable of engaging in.

Orwell from fiction to non fiction.

Chris