The North American Animal Liberation Press Office released a statement Monday announcing two separate anonymous communiques, both of which claim there have been recent underground attacks on animal researchers.
According to the statement, one of the attacks targeted a UCLA researcher conducting animal research.
In one of the communiques, which was signed, “students and workers for the liberation of UCLA primates,” activists claimed that they paint-stripped three cars in the driveway of a UCLA researcher’s property in Santa Monica, according to the statement.
University officials could only confirm that the vehicles had been damaged.
“I can confirm that an unknown liquid was poured on vehicles at the address mentioned,” university spokesman Phil Hampton said.
“I don’t know the extent of the damage.”
UCLA officials maintain that research practices at UCLA are ethical, legal and necessary.
“I’ll emphasize that the tactics used by extremists (against) the use of animal research are reprehensible and UCLA remains committed to tightly regulated research involving the use of laboratory animals,” Hampton said.
“And this research is looking into improving diagnosis and treatment of these cures for a wide variety of medical conditions, including AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and cancer.”
The North American Animal Liberation Press Office, which is a nonprofit, above-ground activist group, was merely notified of the communiques and was not directly associated with them, said Jerry Vlasak, a North American Animal Liberation Press Office spokesman.
But Vlasak said the organization is against any and all animal research, which he finds inhumane.
According to the other communique the North American Animal Liberation Press Office received not long before the other, actions were also taken against animal researchers at UC Berkeley.
The acts of violence follow Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent signing of bill AB 2296 into law just last week.
The bill protects academic researchers and their families against violence and threats from those who oppose their practices.
It also prohibits the publication of researchers’ personal information and photographs.
According to the press office statement, Schwarzenegger’s passing of the bill restricts the free speech of animal-rights protesters, who have the right to protest animal research.
But Hampton said the university supports the bill, and the governor’s legislation provides additional law enforcement tools that will help “to combat these contemptible tactics.”
He said the person targeted has not conducted research on animals in at least four years and the person targeted, who could not be identified, is innocent.
Nancy Greenstein, a university police spokeswoman, also said that UCPD is investigating and following up with the incident.