Activists vow to fight on (From Oxford Mail)

Activists vow to fight on

6:30am Monday 16th February 2009

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Animal rights campaigners have vowed to fight on despite the imprisonment of the co-founder of their group.

On Friday, Mel Broughton, who 10 years ago set up animal rights campaign group SPEAC — which later became Speak, was found guilty of plotting arson attacks on Oxford University buildings.

The 48-year-old from Semilong Road, Northampton, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson and was jailed for 10 years.

Last night, the campaign group that Broughton set up to oppose the building of the university’s £18m Biomedical Sciences Building, in South Parks Road, vowed to continue its non-violent campaign against animal experimentation.

A spokesman said: “Mel Broughton founded Speak and dedicated his life to working tirelessly for animal rights.

“We will be continuing our campaign in Oxford — and this has in no way affected it.

“While there are animals suffering in Oxford laboratories, Speak will be there.”

Broughton maintained he was only involved in non-violent protests, but was charged following the discovery of firebombs at Templeton College in February 2007 and an attack on The Queen’s College’s sports pavillion the previous November.

Oxford University’s Wayneflete Professor of Physiology, Colin Blakemore, a former chief executive of the Medical Research Council, said that he hoped Broughton’s conviction would act as a stark warning to those considering extreme activism.

Prof Blakemore said: “While he didn’t kill anybody, the burning down of a building is a potentially very serious offence.

“I have no problem with peaceful campaigning.

“That’s an absolute right, which I will defend to the hilt.

“But I hope there will never be another Mel Broughton.”

Prof Blakemore and his family suffered 15 years of terror at the hands of other animal rights extremists.

He said: “It was before Mel Broughton’s time.

“After they discovered my address, which it took them a couple of years to find, most of the activities were directed at my children.

“There were death threats, my children had to have police accompaniment everywhere they went and letter bombs were sent to my home.

“There were also lots of demonstrations outside my home, paint stripper was poured over my car and there were bricks thrown through my window.

“There was a very real fear for me and for my family.”

Despite efforts by campaigners to stop the use of animals in medical research, hundreds of mice were moved to the Biomedical Sciences Building in November last year.

Dr Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who supported the university, said peaceful campaigning for a cause was entirely reasonable.

He added: “When Speak have persuaded enough MPs to ban the use of animals for food, which merely provides menu choice, then Parliament might ban the use of animals for saving human life.

“I don’t think banning either is desirable or likely but that’s the logical order and Speak are free to campaign peacefully for it.

“What is unacceptable is intimidation and harassment.”

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