Photograph:-Bivas Banerjee / Saab Press
Posted on 07/24/2004 8:19:42 PM PDT by aculeus
Fury as former surgeon calls for selective assassinations A top adviser to Britain's two most powerful animal rights protest groups caused outrage last night by claiming that the assassination of scientists working in biomedical research would save millions of animals' lives.
To the fury of groups working with animals, Jerry Vlasak, a trauma surgeon and prominent figure in the anti-vivisection movement, told The Observer: 'I think violence is part of the struggle against oppression. If something bad happens to these people [animal researchers], it will discourage others. It is inevitable that violence will be used in the struggle and that it will be effective.'
Vlasak, who likens animal experimentation to the Nazis' treatment of the Jews, said he stood by his claim that: 'I don't think you'd have to kill too many [researchers]. I think for five lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, 2 million, 10 million non-human lives.
Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac), which campaigns for the closure of Huntingdon Life Sciences, has close links with Vlasak. He has also advised Speak, the organisation that last week forced out the contractor building an £18 million primate research laboratory in Oxford.
David Martosko, research director at the Centre for Consumer Freedom, which monitors activist groups on behalf of business interests, responded by saying Vlasak was 'one of the most dangerous animal rights zealots on the planet'. He added: 'He's not making bombs, but he is making bombers.'
Vlasak will address an animal rights conference organised by Shac and Speak in September. Legal experts warned that, if he uses his speech to promote violence, he could be charged with incitement.
Vlasak has made a series of incendiary claims that will alarm moderates in the animal rights movement and reinforce claims that Shac and Speak are fronts for extremists.
Three months ago, he told a US television audience that violence was a 'morally justifiable solution'. Earlier this month, he gave a speech in Virginia in which he said: 'It won't ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. It's going to happen sooner or later.'
Vlasak meets Shac leaders regularly. He has played a big part in writing speeches, directing its strategy and advancing scientific arguments against animal experimentation. He also worked with Speak in its successful effort to prevent the building of a primate research centre in Cambridge and says he plans to work with the group on its Oxford campaign.
Other animal rights groups have distanced themselves from him. Until recently he was a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a group funded by the powerful lobbying group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) and endorsed by Shac.
But a PCRM spokeswoman told The Observer: 'He is not a member of the organisation.' Vlasak confirmed he was not working with the PCRM 'at the moment'.
While acknowledging that his views might alienate some people, Vlasak, who claims animal experimentation 'wastes billions of pounds a year', said more and more people in the animal rights movement were drawn to violent action. 'The grass roots are tired of writing letters. The polite approach has not worked,' he said.
Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary, last night promised that the law would be strengthened to tackle the growing number of incidents. On Friday Home Office Minister Caroline Flint will unveil measures designed to clamp down on protesters. It is believed ministers are frustrated that the CPS and the police have not taken a sufficiently robust stance against the movement.
One of the City's largest institutions, the National Association of Pension Funds, is about to offer a £25m reward to help catch protesters who threaten businesses associated with animal research firms.
Yesterday, 300 Speak activists celebrated their coup in forcing building firm Montpellier to pull out of the new Oxford primate research centre with a march through the city centre. Protester Robert Cogswell attacked the NAPF's offer of a reward. 'It should stop wasting money and start looking at why people are taking illegal action,' he said.
Yesterday Natasha Avery, a spokeswoman for Shac, declined to comment on its links with Vlasak. Speak did not return calls.
What a bunch of tools. Why doesn't anyone point out, that testing on animals prevents humans from being injured or being killed. Another progressive idea from an enlightened group.
ping
Kinda sends the physicians creed of "Primum Non Nocere" (first, do no harm) right out the window, doesn't it?
Thankfully, we have a whole suite of new anti-terror laws to cope with people like this. I'm sure a nice twenty-year stretch for this "Doctor" would be just the thing.
Jerry Vlasak, a trauma surgeon and prominent figure in the anti-vivisection movement, told The Observer: 'I think violence is part of the struggle against oppression.
Note the overt Marxist language and doctrine.
These are no doubt the same wackos who believe in a woman's inalienable right to kill her unborn child.
Once the lunatics start the "killing"....the streets will run red...
No one could question that we live in a target rich environment...
Islamists, ELF, PETA, Marxists, America haters, etc, etc....
Arm thyselves, neighbors....
I no longer question that the day will arrive here......it's just a question of how soon...
Semper Fi
Oh, dear, another tough-talking academic "revolutionary" willing to fight to the last drop of somebody else's blood. First shot comes his way, he'll be squealing for the police to protect him against "oppression." These guys never change.
lessening the weight of all the PETA/ELF/ALF/SIERRA CLUB/ASPCA nuts would also save millions of human lives!
'I think violence is part of the struggle against oppression. If something bad happens to these people [animal researchers], it will discourage others. It is inevitable that violence will be used in the struggle and that it will be effective.'
Do these people have any idea of the impliations of their logic? You know these guys would be the first ones complaining about hate speech if the same statements were made about them. Its these same types who support Kerry. Where is the world heading when supposedly sane people speak like that. Is it any different than the fatwa against Salman Rushdie? No wonder the liberals don't recognize the threat posed by the jihadis, the logic of the two is inseparable. Makes you wonder who the real enemy is.
This 'surgeon' needs to have an unfortunate 'accident'.
No, "just the thing" would be for him to get 20 yrs as a guinea pig/test subject in pharmaceutical trials. This would leave him with a feeling of satisfaction for a life which would not have been spent in vain. Actually, it seems to be the best use for his ilk.
Oh, brother. That's just pathetic.
Yes, for these nutcases it is just a means to an end.
Everything so THEY can order YOU to do things whatever way/whim they want.
The new Unabomber, perhaps?
Won't he look cute with his new boyfriend "Big Bubba"?
Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil
For thy Glock and they Benchmade they comfort me.
I wonder if the same "concerned" scientists who signed the anti-Bush petition will also sign on to criticize this explicit attack not just on people's lives, but on science in general.
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