Five arrested after activists block entrance to Oregon research laboratory; facility has killed primates, wasted tax money

Press Release
From Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"


UPDATE: BREAKING NEWS ADVISORY
Monday, June 28, 2010 (1:15 p.m.)
Contact: Michael Budkie, [email protected] , 513-703-9865
Portland Animal Defense League ([email protected])
Stop Animal Exploitation Now ([email protected]).
More info: http://www.saenonline.org/index.html 

Five arrested after activists block entrance to Oregon research laboratory; facility has killed primates, wasted tax money

BEAVERTON, OR (Monday, 1:15 p.m.) – Five activists were just arrested here today after a more than four-hour blockade of the entrance to the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). All traffic in and out of the facility was stopped since 8:40 a.m.

They were being transported to Washington County jail on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. A large contingent of state and local police cut animal rights activists out of their “lock boxes.” Nearly 100 activists participated in the demonstration.

Animal activists blockaded the entrance to the notorious primate research laboratory here that has been cited for violating federal law in its treatment of primate subjects – including the killing of 2 primates by administering an unapproved drug.

ONPRC was cited seven times last year for violating the Animal Welfare Act including the use of unqualified personnel, inadequate veterinary care, and improper housing. Two Rhesus Macaque monkeys were killed when ONPRC administered an unapproved drug to them.

OHSU recent was denied a $15 million request from the National Institutes of Health for a massive expansion of its primate research facility. The facility already contains approximately 4,200 non-human primates.

“Federal violations at this facility have demonstrated a very high level of negligence and incompetence," said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.., Executive Director, SAEN. "Any experimentation done at this facility is highly suspect at best.”

Budkie said the issue was also a taxpayer issue. Billions of dollars are wasted annually on invalid animal research instead of clinical and other scientifically sound research that could provide cures.

"Not only should the ONPRC not be allowed to expand, it should be shut down entirely," said Justin Kay of the Portland Animal Defense League, organizer of Monday’s protest along with SAEN.

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See Also:
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR
Five protesters arrested at Oregon National Primate Research Center in Hillsboro - 28 Jun 2010
Police Arrest 5 At Primate Center Protest - 28 Jun 2010
Five arrested in Oregon primate center protest - 28 Jun 2010
5 protesters arrested outside Ore. primate center - 28 Jun 2010
Protesters target primate center - 28 Jun 2010
Primate Center Protestors Handcuffed - 28 Jun 2010
Animal right protesters arrested outside OHSU primate center - 28 Jun 2010

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