Anti-vivisection protest at Auckland University marks World Lab Animal Day

Auckland Animal Action held animal abusers to account in its last week of actions. Throughout World Lab Animal week protests were held to highlight animal testing carried out by GlaxoSmithKline and Auckland University. The protests were carried out for the quarter of a million animals killed every year in New Zealand in animal testing.

On Saturday starting at 9am a picket was held outside of one of the directors of GlaxoSmithKline. Protesters held placards and banners and leafleted morning joggers as well as all the local shops and cafes. Almost everyone we talked to was supportive and shocked when they heard about the testing carried out on behalf of GSK. This protest is part of an international campaign to shut down Huntington Life Sciences a British animal testing lab which does work for GSK. One protester was arrested for taking a photo of someone knocking on the directors door.

On Monday a protest was held outside the downtown offices of GlaxoSmithKline. For two and a half hours we leafleted everyone going in and out of the company and held placards showing the kind of abuse GSK is responsible for.

Today about 20 people participated in a banner drop and information picket outside the Auckland University Medical Health department to highlight ongoing vivisection practices.

Two protesters scaled on top of the Medical Science building and held a banner titled "Torturing animals, It's not science". The banner was displayed for over an hour until the police came and arrested them.

The action called attention to the fact that 95% of animal based research in Aotearoa is aimed at increasing the profits of the meat and dairy industries as well as the Universities participation in this.

A significant number of medical students came out to witness the spectacle and a number were sympathetic with the cause. Many agreed that profit based research on animals was wrong and not something for the University to participate in.

Despite AAA wrapping up protests will continue for the animals which suffer and die behind closed doors in New Zealand labs.

See you in the streets!

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Related

http://www.stopvivisection.org.nz/

http://www.nzavs.org.nz/