Seattle protest pix

November 8th, 2004

No rain today! A young lady came up to us & asked if we had ever been in the Primate Center. We said no, they won't let us up there. She said that the Primate Center was really neat & that they are doing great stuff up there. She asked what we thought was so wrong with what they are doing. We said that keeping them in solitary confinement, alone in cages is a pretty awful thing to do to a social creature, and that the AIDS experiments were a waste of time & money since primates cannot even get HIV. Then this young lady said that the psychological experiments were a good thing. Of course I couldn't agree with her & asked why separating baby monkey's from their mothers was okay to do. If they are so much like us, why is it okay to torture them? The conversation basically went downhill from there & ended up with her asking me if I had ever killed a spider. I had to admit that I had, but I know it wasn't okay to do. She asked if it would be okay to line up monkeys & shoot them. I didn't see the connection.
After that enlightening conversation, we didn't get anything more than one woman telling us that she hoped we never got cancer. Thanks!
We will be out there next week!

November 1st, 2004

The first day of November & it is rainy & cold. We definitely have to get some plastic to cover the literature. At least we have a really good way of hanging up the "UW Lies About Caring For Primates" banner. Despite the cold & rain we were able to distribute a good amount of literature & got honks of support from passing cars. We still got a few thumbs down & middle fingers, but the supportive people outweighed those that didn't agree with us.

October 25th, 2004

Today was pretty cold (and it is only October), but the protest went really well. We had a great conversation with this guy that used to work at the UW Primate Center. He said that he decided to stop working there because he thought that what they were doing was wrong. He ended up changing his major because he disagreed with what they are doing at the Primate Center. He said that although we may be gaining knowledge by experimenting on animals, we are doing so at the expense of "selling our soul". This young man did disagree with some protesting methods such as marching through a building a disrupting things, but he did agree with our "cause". Talking with him was definitely the highlight of the day.

October 18th, 2004

The protest today went smoothly. It wasn't too cold & it didn't rain. We were able to get out a good amount of literature & even got a few donations!

October 4th, 2004

Starting this week, we are moving the Monday protests to the afternoon (from 11:00 - 1:00) due to the darkness factor. Less people are able to attend the protest at this time, but we are able to reach more people. The University of Washington students are out in droves, and the hospital staff wanders by on their lunch break. We were able to hand out a lot of literature. Hopefully everyone that took it will read it.

We won't be able to hold the protest on the 11th, but we will be back out on the 18th keeping up the fight!

For the animals,
Rachel

Monday, September. 27th, 2004

We are still here every Monday fighting for our brothers and sisters in
captivity.

Just a reminder to all activists: school will be in session by next
Monday. CARE, the UW animal rights group have joined forces with us,
let's make this campaign a real fight!
Rumor is: since it's getting so dark out early, the protest times may
change to noon. Please contact Michael at mikamoka@nwlink.com or Rachel at
RachelB@narn.org for information.

Keep up the great work Seattle!

For the Animals,
Stephanie

Monday, September 20th, 2004

Today we expanded our protest the the walkway over the busy Pacific
Ave. to do a banner drop. We got to reach new pedestrians that don't
make it past the protest on the street.

We also were able to make our message clear to drivers that "UW Lies
about Caring For Primates! www.uwkillsanimals.com/cankelley/ in
reference to the UW hiring Stephen Kelley after he got fired from
working at the Oregon NPRC because two-thirds of Dr. Kelley's staff had
signed a formal complaint to the Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee (IACUC) committee.

Welcome back to Amanda who was in Virginia for the summer, and will be
organizing the UW Animal Rights group this year, as well as conjoining
with the already exisitng movement against the ANimal Torture Lab.
School starts next week. Let's make this an awesome educational,
awareness, and action year for these animals!

Seattle Animal Rights Activists

Monday, Sept. 13th, 2004

Still we anxiously await the beginning of the school year, since it is still very quiet around. Even so, there is plenty of support from the drivers-by. Many "Thank-Yous" and a few "I know all about it. Keep up the good work."

Still, not everyone agrees, and every once in a while, we get a disgruntled nurse or student. One today, when asked if she wanted to find out how she could help the animals, stated "I'm a nurse! Animals help me and my family!" And I wanted to tell her that I hoped no one from my family/animal family ever fell into her hands, if she could just brush off abuse because "she is a nurse."

Overall, we haven't let down a bit, and we are not giving up. Thanks to Scott, the new protester to our event, for all his awesome ideas of fundraising for public adds. Hopefully, in the near future.

For the animals,

Seattle Activists

September 6th, 2004

Today was very quiet being Labor Day. Just a few of us out, with one new activist to the campaign, Toni, that brought her sweet doggie-friend to help out. Michael came out on his 25th wedding anniversary to speak out in support, the trooper!

Looks like the vivisectors took a day off as well. Must be nice to be able to clock out whenever they want, and forget about the torture subjects left behind that never get to clock out from their misery. Well, little sweethearts, we are not taking any time off from speaking up for you!

The Australian chapter of the Animal Planet was in town today speaking with Rachel about primates, and were very interested to hear about the WaNPRC, and what we were doing in opposition.

Huge thanks to Michael who brought nutritious vegan food for the sick activist!

See you all next Monday,
Stephanie and the Seattle Activists

August 30th, 2004

Anxiously waiting for school to begin, we stand outside again of the Seattle Torture lab, some with UW Primate Freedom tags around our necks. Breaks my heart to know that the 8-year-old primate listed on my tag is not 100 yards away from where I stand outside of captivity. But we will continue to stand here and show the city our disapproval, whether they agree with us or not.

One guy ran by spitting something disapproving about "idealist over ignorance" as he tripped up the stairs of the lab, with us having the last (bellowing) laugh. "Klutz over compassion!"

A physiologist stopped and discussed his sides of opposition and approval. We were talking about the faults of the Animal Welfare Act when we were cut short by his cell phone. Said he would be back next week to talk.

Another interested gentleman came by who worked somewhere across the street. He said he's been seeing us out here repeatedly, and decided to come over and see what we had to say. He left with one piece of every bit of literature we had, after watching part of the video.

Much more driver support- now that we have new signs stating the taxpayers are paying for these grants of funding. Go figure! People begin to care when it comes to their money.

Construction is steadily in the works of the downtown facility. New word that another (Japanese, privately owned) pharmaceutical company is opening up in Everett that will do more animal testing on primates, as well as other animals. Very devastating.

Thanks to everyone who shows up week after week. They can't see us, and they can't hear us out here, but their tormentors do!

For those caged,
Stephanie and the Seattle activists

August 24th, 2004

The cold weather and threat of rain did not keep Seattle activists from coming out to stand in remembrance of all those poor lives taken and held captive. Michael, wearing his UW Primate Freedom tag, went as far to give away his baseball game tickets of the night to speak up for the animals.

Today we were unable to show our footage on the TV due to generator complications, which was especially unfortunate, because we talked to a researcher from inside that had said he has never even heard of abuse inside the labs. Thomas spends his hours at work ejecting DNA from rodents' tails for human study cases. When asked how he, emotionally, could do that as a job, his reply was "How do you know they feel it?" Thomas was not secure when we told him that animals have nervous systems. He, in fact, pulled out his camera-phone and proceeded to take photos of all the activists. His best argument was "Would you rather we test on humans?" HELLO? YES!! Reisha even offered to go inside with him!

Another surgical doctor at the medical center said he did not even know that there was a primate lab at the UW. He said he knew they tested on animals there, and assured me he thought it is all ludicrous that scientists are still convinced that animals studies relate in any way to human studies. He took a piece of all the literature we had to offer, signed the petition, and asked how he could get more involved. Talk about what's going on, the injustices with these animal machines. Get educated. Use resources. Get active!

A student from the UW stoped to chat for a while. He said that he goes to the library near the labs everyday. He knew the labs were there, but was unable to ever go near them. He is convinced the UW likes to keep a lot of things "hush-hush!," in addition to the labs. I would say he's very skeptical of the UW standards and procedures. He likes to keep an eye-out, and he will pay more attention when it comes to the animal testing dungeons.

Another student came by early in the event and spoke to me fr quite a while. He said that he knew of some of the studies being done inside the labs relating to rodents. He thought that they were doing only micro-dot computed studies, and was disappointed to learn that this was not the case. He was even more upset when he heard that the primates were being tested on as well. I wonder exactly what they do tell the students about what goes on at their school.

A woman came by and stated she used to work at the lab, but would not come and speak with us.

Another driver passed by and donated $$.
Making a desensitized vivisector "think" about the animal he's about to stick a needle into is cause enough to stand outside every week. We win again!

For the Animals,
Stephanie and Seattle Activists

Monday, August 16, 2004

Today I spoke to an obstetrician who worked at the medical center in conjunction with the WaNPRC, and who had seen us here previously. She said that not only did she know about the lab there, but she has actually done a cesarean operation on a primate. When asked how she felt about that, she said that she was very concerned with procedure and care, because if anything was done wrong, she would have pulled out, and blew a whistle. She was NOT in favor of animal testing, in fact was very into animal rights. She said that they only test on animals because the animals have no rights, and that she found it was not factual in most cases to test on animals of a species for results of another species. She also signed our petition about allowing UW students a choice in dissection practices. When asked, I told her how she could get more involved in educating and participating within our local movement.

Previous to this encounter I spoke with a biologist who also worked in the medical center. He said that he knows of them mostly testing on rats and mice, so the number of primates being tested on (around 1800) was nowhere near the number of rodents. He claimed that testing on rodents was pointless in results for humans.

A very generous guy drove past and tossed money at us, which is going directly to the legal funds of local animal rights activists.

We had a handful of "Thank You"s from pedestrians.
Only positive results today!

Monday, August 9th, 2004

Today was the smallest protest yet- but with the consistency, it was just as important. We had mostly veteran activists to the campaign participating. We appreciate all you guys! Two new members, Jessie and Jenny, who attended an event last week where I spoke at, showed up with huge interest and a lot of questions. Thanks to you two for making this fight a part of your agenda. The animals need you all!

We've been told that the UW research center has been extended to a downtown location as well. To our favor, protesting there as well will give us the opportunity to educate even more. Change occurs through the first step: education.

I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank Jean from the PFP for all her efforts and support. She has donated a great deal to this cause, and to the Seattle campaign. In addition, I would like to thank Jeremy Beckham for everything he had done and all his support as well. He just finished up the PFP Tour 2004, and is immediately working on bigger advancements. He has been readily available for answers and advice, and checks on us often. In this case, the animals AND activists are lucky to have the both of you! Thanks again you two!!

As Long As It Takes,
Stephanie

Monday, August 2nd

The Seattle Animal Rights scene is beginning to boil! This was our largest protest since we started, with seven new members to the campaign!

Liese, a former member from the Action For Animals-Bellevue Community College branch- joined us with knowledge of the Primate Freedom fight. Mason, a first time protester and future UW student, joined us with a sever sprained ankle and stood holding signs the whole time! He will be joining the UW animal rights group and will be educating the students about the cruelty of the UW lab from inside. Angie and Julia came all the way over from Bellevue, which is across the water. We're very lucky to have Jennifer with us again, who is a dedicated activist we've worked in conjunction with previously. Josh, a new member from PN, and very dedicated to animals, wore the monkey costume. James is new to protesting but familiar with the campaign and what goes on inside, and will be a huge support.

We passed out TONS of literature to passer-bys and traffic, with lots of positive reaction. People who wouldn't pay attention before because "we're just protesters" are seeing that we are serious and we are not going away. Some of the people that we've seen before on their Monday schedules are starting to come by and listen to what we have to say. The television has stopped a few walkers, who left completely digusted at the fact that this torture goes on in our neighborhood. Someone is their car came by waving their literature we gave them during the last few protests honking his horn wildly in support. Someone asked how long we were going to be coming out here, and we responded "As long as it takes!"

We did have a very anrgry accountant that came by- I don't recall his name- that was not too happy with us protesting, spitting insults as he walked passed and denying our "garbage" literature. Half block later he turned around and took a pamphlet and turned to leave as he read it. He then turned around, again, and started saying that our AR movement is old, and this alternative science is "new", so we should not be speaking out, just letting the vivisectioners take care of it, and come around. Speaking with Asa and Reisha for quite some time, he realized that we was actually on our side- wanting the science to be turned away from animals and cruelty, and turned to alternatives and knowledge expansion. I guess he thought we were out here protesting science, instead of animal cruelty.

Vivisectors were angry again as they were leaving, with more people offering them literature. Still none will come speak with us.

Another huge success with big thanks to all the new activists, the two Northwest Animal Rights Network advocates, Rachel and Asa, for your ongoing support, and to everyone else that takes time to come out every week and speak up for our fight. Spreading the truth and consistency is key for change! The animals are lucky to have you all on their side!

Monday, July 26th, 2004

Today was the second protest of our campaign to end vivisection at the UW, and was again very successful. At least 10 people took time to make it out for our fight, once again with a few new protesters to this campaign. Skylar dressed in the monkey costume, and was aggressively passing out literature to the people in cars from the sidewalk outside the center, as well as from the median in the street. Meanwhile I was shouting anti-vivisection facts over the megaphone, with reaction most to when saying the taxpayers were funding these experimenters' paychecks. The television showed the undercover investigation of Oregon's Primate Research facility, by Matt Rossell, for all the pedestrians walking by. We also passed out a lot of literature. Education is the base for change!

I talked with a pediatrician who worked at the medical center, located directly in connection with the National Primate Reseach Center. She said she was new, but she was told that the primates were in good care, although she had never seen any of those in the labs. She also tried to assure me that -she "knew for a fact!"- that the primates in this facility were rewarded with food after experiments (!), as if that was a justification for the days of torment these animals go through! I asked her if she thought there was any way for us to go in and see for ourselves, and she said that she could not even go in. But somehow she was sure of the primates care.

We had a car load of people with some advice to vivisectors to start testing on humans instead of animals, and then some wondering why we weren't sitting at home watching the democratic convention from our television.

Once again, I would like to thank all the dedicated activists that continue to speak out for the animals, day after day, protest after protest. And a very special thanks to those who helped to set up and take down. We'll see you all next Monday!

For the Animals,
Stephanie

Monday, July 19th 6-8pm,

Magnuson Health Science Center

Today was the start of our weekly protests. There were about 10-15 activists that showed up in support, many wearing blood splattered lab coats. Most are the dedicated AR activists that show up to every event, including a member from NARN, and a few from SHAC. We had a few first time protesters, but I'm confindent they are now life-long activists! One traveled all the way from Monroe-which is about a 30-40 minute drive! Two skateboarders passed by-one local, one from Spokane- took the literature we were passing out, sat down to read them, and then decided to pick up signs-one in each hand- and stayed to help for most of the event! School is out so there was not a lot of foot traffic, and our television decided not to work as soon as we showed up, so we could not play our tapes, but overall I was really pleased with the event, and we passed out a lot of literature to walkers and drivers. We were set up as the experimenters were leaving for the night in their BMWs and convertibles, and were forced to stop at the stoplight right in front of us. I spoke at/with a few of them for the short time I had, but none would pull over to talk with us. One actually took our literature!, and said he would come back, but didn't. They definately felt our presence!

A big thank you to everyone who took time out of their afternoon to speak out for those that cannot choose how to spend their afternoons, and again to all the dedicated AR activists that come out to show support at every event! Without you, the movement would be nowhere!

Commitment in Seattle--How it began.

Stephanie Taylor and Reisha Beck from Seattle, WA. joined Jeremy Beckham on his Freedom Tour while in Seattle and realized the importance of educating the public on vivisection. The two activists are starting protests beginning Monday, July 19, outside the University of Washington Primate Research Center. Stephanie and Reisha have commited to be there every Monday until they get open-door access to the facility and all their questions answered.

If you're a local activist, please stop by and thank Stephanie and Reisha for their commitment and pick-up a sign and help for a while.

Thanks to Stephanie and Reisha for all they do to help the primates!

Travel with Jeremy. Read all the installments.