Research with monkeys protested at ASU
By Kristina Davis, East Valley
Tribune
November 18, 2004
The protesters held up disturbing images of monkeys in
metal restraints and on laboratory tables.
In their other arms, they clutched stuffed animal
monkeys with bloodied gauze wrapped around their exposed plastic brains.
The 20 demonstrators lined University Drive near
College Street on Wednesday afternoon to protest primate testing at
Arizona State University, which they say is cruel and unnecessary.
"We want to speak out against the blood money that is
animal experimentation," said Jonathan Grindell, 23, a graduate student.
"ASU keeps very quiet about what�s going on behind those doors."
The demonstration, hosted by Animal Commandos and Last
Chance for Animals, was part of Freedom for Primates week.
ASU was one of several universities where primates are
used in research that was identified by Stop Animal Exploitation Now, a
nonprofit watchdog organization.
At ASU, researchers are working with monkeys to build
a robotic arm that can be controlled by thought only.
The monkeys have been able to control the movement of
a cursor and a robotic arm in real time with their brains, university
officials said.
"ASU supports efforts to research to improve the
quality of life for everyone," said Manny Romero, an ASU spokesman.
But several protesters called the tests "illogical."
"It�s awful, all the electrodes in their heads," said
Shaynie Aero of Mesa. "(Researchers) make them, through stress and lack
of water, do different actions. They sit in restraint chairs for six
hours a day."
The demonstrators said there is also talk of
experimenting on dogs with the opening of the new Arizona Biodesign
Institute.