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Demo supports jailed Sean Kirtley (From Malvern Gazette)
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Demo supports jailed Sean Kirtley
8:20am Friday 5th September 2008
A MASS demonstration in support of jailed animal rights protestor Sean Kirtley of Malvern will take place outside the Sequani animal testing labs in Ledbury tomorrow, September 6.
Riot police will be on standby near the demonstration, which will take place at noon.
Kirtley, who lived at Orford Way, has became a figurehead for the animal rights movement across the UK, since he was jailed for four-and-a-half years in June for his part in the campaign against the Bromyard Road lab.
Kirtley, aged 42, has launched an appeal against his sentence.
Police have been keen to contact the organisers of tomorrow’s demonstration, which is being advertised on the internet as “The Carnival Against Vivisection”.
But protestors say they are reluctant to contact police, because of what happened to Kirtley.
Chief Inspector Shane Hancock said: “We’ve had no contact with the organisers, but I guess that’s no real surprise.
“It’s a case of seeing what turns up.”
He added: “There is nothing to indicate that violence will take place and nothing to suggest that the demonstration won’t pass off smoothly.”
Police press officer, Peter Butcher confirmed that Police Support Units would be nearby.
These are transit vans, each one containing a sergeant and six constables in riot gear.
He said: “Whether we’ll use them from the start is very much in doubt. We haven’t tooled up for World War III.”
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Your Say YourMalvern
SuzieB, Hove says...
11:40am Fri 5 Sep 08
Malvern, Malvern says...
4:29pm Fri 5 Sep 08
pudniw_gib, Malvern says...
6:19pm Fri 5 Sep 08
I know Mr Kirtley and as far as I could see he was doing nothing more than lawful protest until the laws changed... His attitude to animal rights might seem forceful and uncompromising from the police and some of the press' reports and comments however he would defend human rights as vehemently, and is not the type of person to use violence to achieve his aims and would see it as a failure and counter-productive to the cause.
The result of all this is Ledbury is in the limelight for the wrong reasons. It remains to be seen how many people turn up on Saturday but this case has attracted attention nationwide from the press and various human rights organisations.
Maggie H, Shoreham-By-Sea says...
1:49am Sat 6 Sep 08
pudniw_gib, Malvern says...
4:35pm Sat 6 Sep 08
It was also good to get waves from some of the locals and toots of support from people in cars.
The police were fairly polite but there was a bit of shoving during the march through town that was unwarranted I felt. Some were saying excuse me you should stay on the road and some were were just rude.
I wonder how much the policing has cost and whether Sequani will pay towards it?
I think the demonstration has raised some awareness about vivisection but also, in part to the coverage by the Gazette and other press, the removing of the rights of the ordinary person to raise their voice against organisations or the government or whatever is testing their conscience.
I hope the Gazette and Reporter don't concentrate too much on the minor shoving match that took place under the railway bridge. I am sure they will do a fair report.. as they always do.
can't face, worcester says...
6:13pm Sat 6 Sep 08
I used to go to Fringe gigs in hope that the words I heard at these gigs where real. What a joke!
chocolate starfish, malvern says...
6:24pm Sat 6 Sep 08
What has the Fringe done?
Nothing.............
..
pudniw_gib, Malvern says...
7:26pm Sat 6 Sep 08
chocolate starfish and can't face,, this isnt just a chance to bash the Fringe is it? by any chance :)
Terry Walpole, Great Malvern says...
11:38am Sun 7 Sep 08
I never knew that anti-vivisection could be so much fun.
Terry Walpole, Great Malvern says...
11:53am Sun 7 Sep 08
I said the very same thing to jeremy hardy,Joolz and LKJ when they performed here.
As for the Malvern Recorder Day he's a right anarchist he is.
dik withers, sodbury says...
12:45pm Sun 7 Sep 08
They are an embarrassment, disquised as sniffy upper middle class pseudo hippies with large egos.
When they can be bothered they promote something its utter crap fit to drive anyone to sleep. Have a look at the wretched list of dull stuff that find its self repeated again and again. Where did it it all go wrong?
Its about time it was disbanded. It is failing badly and a waste of money.
chocolate starfish, malvern says...
10:02pm Sun 7 Sep 08
What have they got to lose?
Dik withers hit the nail on the head describing the Fringe as “sniffy upper middle class pseudo hippies with large egos” I would not have said it better myself unless I added “with out balls.”
Lets see some action!!!
can't face, worcester says...
10:30pm Sun 7 Sep 08
The fringe could have flexed its charitable muscle several months ago. Don't be surprised if it acts like an Ostridge with its head in the sand.
Your sayYour Malvern
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pudniw_gib, Malvern says...
11:26am Fri 5 Sep 08
So what has Sean done?
Protested peacefully and run a website to promote a cause he believes in. As far as we know there has never been any trouble outside Sequani involving Mr Kirtley.
Whatever you might think of the animal rights movement this use of the law to stop peaceful protest cannot go unanswered, it is green light to other businesses that might be under public scrutiny and protest to try and get the law to protect them and their activities. Mobile phone companies building masts, airport expansion, the arms trade and any number of things that the public might stand up against could get legal protection not only from direct action but indirect action such as running a protest website that might inform others of the issues and locations to protest at.
The police know exactly why the protesters on Saturday won't give their details, raids on homes and the removal of mobile phones, cameras, computers and anything else the police might find useful is enough to put anyone off cooperating with the law.
The Judge in this case is a supporter of hunting and shooting and should never have been allowed near an animal rights case.