Rally & March Will Highlight Industry’s Refusal to Debate the Science of Primate Experimentation

Portland, OR - Concerned Northwest citizens will march and rally in downtown Portland to raise awareness about the need for more accountability in publicly funded animal research. The American Society of Primatologists (ASP) is meeting at the Benson Hotel for their annual conference, August 17th-20th, which is being hosted by Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Both the ASP and OHSU have once again turned down a challenge to publicly debate the efficacy of using animals as a model for human disease, an event that was being organized at Portland State University.
In Defense of Animals (IDA) will host a noontime rally Saturday, August 20, in the North Park Blocks which will be followed by a 1.8 mile, police-escorted march first stopping at the Benson Hotel, and then walk on to the OHSU main campus. 

When: Saturday, August 20, Rally begins at 12:15 PM 
Where: Begin- N. Park Blocks; between W Burnside, NW Couch, NW 8th & NW Park

“If animal experimentation is valid and reliable, why do researchers at OHSU and members of the ASP have so many excuses about why they won’t debate it?” questions Matt Rossell, In Defense of Animals NW Outreach Coordinator and former OHSU Primate Technician. “It seems clear these researchers are paying close attention to how an ongoing discussion in the UK is leading toward less support for outdated animal models, and they fear bringing the debate to the US will be bad for business.”

During 2001 and 2002 in the UK, South Cambridgeshire District Council twice rejected a planning application from Cambridge University to build a huge new research complex to carry out experiments on monkeys. A massive body of testimony from experts discrediting the value of animal experimentation, contributed to the decision. In contrast, the university was unable to document examples of findings from monkeys translating into progress in medical care for people. 

Among those who testified against the Cambridge lab was Dr. Ray Greek, Medical Director of Europeans For Medical Advancement, who gave hours of testimony and stated, “The track record of primate research is abysmal. The abandonment of animal models is absolutely vital for medicine to advance.” 

Greek is willing to participate in a debate which was scheduled at Portland State University, 7 PM on Saturday, August 20, but after an exhaustive search, IDA couldn’t find a single scientist or spokesperson from OHSU, ASP or elsewhere willing to defend animal experimentation. 

A free public debate in Oxford, England was held on April 21, 2005, titled, “Animal Experiments, Science or Fiction?” Then, on July 23rd, more than 1000 activists marched in Oxford to mark the one-year anniversary in which construction on a partially built primate lab at Oxford University came to an historic halt.


IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS · 5428 NE 30TH · PORTLAND, OR, 97211 · 503-249-9996