UCLA animal researchers step up efforts against protesters

Scientists at UCLA are stepping up their campaign against violent extremists and others who say there’s no human benefit from experiments on animals.

Billboards around the Southland and a full-page newspaper advertisement in the Los Angeles Times last weekend extolled an idea that scientists assumed was a given: animal experiments lead to advances in science.

Many animal rights groups disagree. Some stage peaceful protests while others advocate going as far as killing scientists to stop this research.

For years, scientists have refused to counter activists who claim that animal experimentation has led to no significant medical breakthroughs. That approach changed months ago when UCLA psychology researcher David Jentsh, a victim of violent vandalism, broke with custom and organized a large protest. The group he's formed, Pro-Test for Science, is holding another demonstration this weekend.

Jentsch says research protesters run the gamut. "I believe there’s lots of animal rights activists who are reasonable, civilized, and want to achieve their goals in a more straightforward way that doesn’t involve telling mistruths and bombing things."

Jentsch says he plans events with local groups in the coming months and hopes to foster this kind of activism among scientists from other universities. Jerry Vlasak, a surgeon and spokesman for several of the groups that advocate violence against scientists, says he doesn’t think animal research opponents, violent or not, will collaborate with the scientists because he believes there’s no justification for harming animals in any way.