In the Daily Bruin News article, “Animal rights activists
protest against UCLA researchers” (April 25), Nicolas Taborek
reports protesters demonstrated outside the homes of UCLA animal
researchers and one of the activists, Erica Sutherland,
“believes the demonstrations were effective.”
We are two of these “animal researchers.” And,
indeed, on April 21, around 10:15 p.m., our home was attacked
allegedly by a large group of animal activists, wearing masks to
hide their identities. They were shouting, throwing stones, kicking
and banging so hard on the entrance door of our home that we feared
they wanted to demolish it. Not only were they trespassing on our
private road, but they trespassed on our property. They broke the
glass window panel of the side door to our garage. A rock, thrown
from the street, made a hole in the screen door ““ fortunately
not the glass door situated a few feet from our dining table. In
the house next door, a four-year-old little girl was filled with
terror.
What is the result of these acts of intimidation? Immediately,
we had calls and e-mails from our neighbors, some of whom had seen
the activists and/or the fliers accusing us. Their reactions were
very refreshing. Some of our neighbors even became interested in
the research we were doing at UCLA. All were very supportive. Here
is a sample of the messages received:
“Please take comfort in knowing that we are outraged by
the PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
actions on the road last night. We support the work that you do for
the good of mankind, and we stand ready to help you if ever we can
be of service.”
“As your neighbors, we are always there for
you.”
“Frightening children in their sleep is simply not to
happen again.”
We wish to address our own message to the PETA ““
regardless of the cause, criminal trespass and the infliction of
fear, emotional distress and terror cannot be countenanced in our
society. I understand that you believe you are fighting for the
benefit of the defenseless. However, the behavior manifested by
black-cloaked marauders at 10 p.m. is criminal terrorism, trespass
and harassment. We will pursue civil and criminal remedies if a
repetition is considered.
The countless letters from our neighbors do not support Erica
Sutherland’s contention that “the demonstrations were
effective.” On the contrary, these letters prove that
terrorism does not pay.
Animal activists may be outraged because so few people take
their arguments seriously, but it is not a reason to rely on
aggression as an act of desperation.
The next morning, one of us (John) gave two lectures to a class
of first-year medical students and, of course, the material
included findings obtained from animal research. Whether we like it
or not, the substantial and accelerating progress medicine has made
since the second half of the 19th century is due, in major part, to
experimental research on animals. All physicians are trained on the
basis of this research.
Think about this the next time you see your doctor because at
that time you are taking advantage of what he or she has learned
from animal research. Remember that the medications prescribed for
you have been tested on animals for the sake of your own safety.
What’s more, not only human medicine, but veterinary
medicine, benefits from animal research.
John Schlag is a neurobiology professor at UCLA. Madeleine
Schlag-Rey is a neurobiology researcher at UCLA.