Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Animal-Rights Violence Has Schools Turning to Courts

Battle pits free-speech rights against safety

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 28, 2008 3:48 PM CST

(Newser) – In recent months, animal-rights activists have strapped a firebomb under a UCLA professor’s car and flooded another’s home in a campaign to intimidate the school into ending experiments on primates. A judge has issued several restraining orders as the university tries to protect researchers, Newsweek reports, while protesters think their right to free speech is being attacked.

“It's laughable that someone willing to face a 30-year sentence for arson will be put off by a restraining order,” said an Animal Liberation Front webmaster. Individuals named in the restraining order say they’ll respect it, but say they intend to fight it in court. Though the ALF has claimed responsibility for several attacks, no arrests have been made.

A monkey looks out from its bars after a plastic surgery operation in this file photo. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
A monkey looks out from its bars after a plastic surgery operation in this file photo. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)   (Getty Images)
An animal rights activist, partially nude and painted as a tiger, protests inside a metal cage in Santiago, in this Oct. 25, 2007 file photo. The sign reads in Spanish In circuses, animals suffer.  (AP Photo/Roberto Candia)
An animal rights activist, partially nude and painted as a tiger, protests inside a metal cage in Santiago, in this Oct. 25, 2007 file photo. The sign reads in Spanish "In circuses, animals suffer." ...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

PETA's Weirdest Stunts of the Year

PETA Wants Psych Test for Vick to Return

Feds Probe Firebombing of Animal Researcher's Car

Firebombed Researcher Fears Animal-Rights Activists


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne