AstraZeneca Demo Report - Wednesday 17th June 2009
SHACTIVISTS RETURN TO ASTRAZENECA’S LUTON OFFICES
On Wednesday 17th June 09 Shactivists decided to pay AstraZeneca’s Luton offices a visit. Upon arriving in skull masks it was obvious they weren’t expecting us as there was no police welcoming party like there has been previously.
Blinds were quickly dropped as it became apparent to the workers inside that a demonstration was taking place. Three megaphones were used to make it clear why we were there. They are a customer of disgraceful Huntingdon Life Sciences.
A female worker took photos and notes about us from behind the thick glass whilst workers from surrounding companies took to the roof or came out to see what was going on. Some walked by to get leaflets and show their support.
One driver was too quick when trying to get into the car park, after speaking on the intercom to someone inside he immediately drove into the rising barrier. As he left he shouted expletives at us. A van delivering food supplies was denied entry.
We had been protesting for an hour and were having a quick stop for a picnic on the verge when the police arrived with sirens from two different directions!! After arriving late and parking in the entrance they encircled us and tried to demand our details, we flatly refused and resumed the demo.
When the megaphones resumed they tried to stop us using them, we refused again and carried on. Some activists went to another side of the building, the police then requested we stop the demo there, again refused. An activist started to film the police as they were issuing requests and orders without backing it up with the laws they were claiming to be enforcing. Two officers in particular took exception to this and both grabbed at the camera and held on, a conversation ensued and eventually they decided to let go.
Officers took to their cars to discuss what to do and we noted their numbers. They stayed in the cars about an hour, taking advice on the telephone whilst we continued as we had been before they arrived.
When they eventually reemerged an officer approached reading a text message that served us a section 14 and required us to disperse in 20 minutes. He did not approach all activists.
We gave it all we had for 20 minutes and went on our way. We had reminded AstraZeneca that they should drop HLS and issue a statement to that effect. We had exposed them to local companies as the animal abusers they are.