Animal rights group protests at homes
Several Huntsman Corp. executives' houses are targeted
Members of the group Utah Primate Freedom say they are staging demonstrations outside the executives' homes because Richard Michaelson, the chief financial officer of Huntingdon Life Sciences, also sits on the Huntsman Corp.'s board of directors. Michaelson does not live in Utah, but that's not stopping the protests outside his colleagues' homes.
"The residents of Herbert Avenue can be assured that we will return to their neighborhood time and time again, until we are sure that Richard Michaelson has been permanently kicked off of Huntsman's board of directors," the group said in a statement posted on their Web site. "And that day WILL come."
Huntsman Corp. officials were in China and not available for comment Wednesday. The chemical company was founded by Jon Huntsman Sr., the father of Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.
British-based Huntingdon Life Sciences has been the target of animal rights activists because of its testing on animals. The group is co-sponsoring a national conference in Salt Lake City this week for the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
"We're campaigning until they kick him off the board. As soon as they kick him off the board, demonstrations are over," Jeremy Beckham said Wednesday.
Some believe the home demonstrations are intimidation and harassment. Beckham calls it "pressure and effective activism."
"It's a tactic that's becoming more common," said Dr. Mark Suckow, the president of AALAS. "It's unfortunately caused some very valuable and important research to stop due to this fear people have for their families and their loved ones."
Suckow said some scientists have quit their jobs and ended their research because of fear of the protests and death threats. He encourages his colleagues to take common-sense precautions.
Outside the Salt Palace, a small band of animal rights activists held up banners and posters featuring monkeys being experimented upon. They videotaped people going in and out of the building. Some conference-goers, in turn, videotaped the protesters.
At one point, both sides held cameras inches from each other.
"I hope your company doesn't do business with HLS!" Beckham shouted as he tried to hand out DVDs promoting his cause.
Some of the activists wore masks to hide their identities. Beckham said that is partly because they have been sued in civil court for harassment.
"We're not actually breaking any laws by doing things like home protests," he said. "But you don't need to break any laws to have a judgment issued against you in civil court."
Recent comments
Is this Huntsman as In Middlesbrough in the UK?
Wild_ice | Nov. 7, 2007 at 7:55 a.m.
