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.