By reporter Steven Smalley
For the second time in a couple of weeks, a group of animal activists protesting the planned construction of animal testing facilities at the University of Washington were in the neighborhood Sunday to create a commotion with the use of bullhorns, according to neighbors. The target of the demonstrators? actions, they believed, was at the private home of a Skanska USA project manager, according to the protesters? website. Except, they got it wrong. The residence belonged to a low-level Skanska employee, not the project manager, according to a company representative.
Noisy demonstrators were reportedly objecting to plans for an animal testing facility at the University of Washington slated to begin in April.
Nearby residents at 22nd & Dravus heard the ruckus and came outside to investigate.
?They were there for an hour or so yelling and handing out flyers,? explained a witness who contacted Magnolia Voice. ?It was all very odd. A few other neighbors were out taking pictures and talking to them, too.?
A flyer passed out at the protest read in-part, ?Even though the University of Washington is considered a world leader in research, the University continues to invest in outdated animal research methods.? Continuing, it claims, ?The University of Washington?s history of using animals in research includes being fined by the USDA for allowing a primate to starve to death, citations for performing unauthorized experiments on primates, and evidence of primates engaging in self-mutilation. The UW uses and kills thousands of animals ? primates, mice, pigs, rabbits, cats, and others ? every year, and they all suffer and die behind closed doors.?
?Neighbors told them they were at the wrong place,? explains ?Kelly? who lives nearby with her husband. ?One protester pulled a kerchief over his face to hide it, then got in the face of one of the husbands who came out to watch. (The husband) said, ?Hey man, don?t cover your face. If you have something to say, then say it.??
After the demonstrators left, Kelly saw the targeted homeowner in his backyard with a flashlight.??He was very nervous,? she said. ?He was looking under his car to make sure everything was safe. He has a young child. The protesters were aggressive.??Then Kelly revealed her own feelings on the subject. ?I?m very liberal, and stand behind civil disobedience,? she said. ?Just make sure you have the facts right. He?s not doing anything wrong. Just a guy going to work every day ? making sure his family is safe. Our community of six houses came together to protect our neighbor.?
?We respect the protesters? right to speak out in public areas, and we hope they will respect the rights of our employees to safe workplaces and homes,? writes
Chris Toher, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Skanska, Seattle. ?I want to clarify that the target of the Magnolia demonstration is not affiliated with the work taking place at the University of Washington.?
??The University of Washington has been a valued and trusted Skanska client for more than 20 years. We were selected to build their new research facility for our ability to safely and effectively manage the project?s technical construction challenges,? Toher concludes in his email to Magnolia Voice.
Editor’s note- They were back at it again today- for the third time.? These photos were sent in by a reader:
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