Pro-Test rally on April 8 supports researchers, denounces harassment

The event is organized by Pro-Test for Science, a grassroots organization of faculty, staff and students modeled after a group formed by Oxford University students in England. One of the goals of the rally is to defend the right of researchers to pursue their work free from harassment by anti?animal research extremists and to communicate a better understand of research to the public. Pro-Test members and supporters will gather on the northeast corner of Westwood Boulevard and Le Conte Avenue at 11:30 Thursday morning to stand up for lifesaving research. A march will follow the 11:30 rally, with marchers converging on UCLA's Wilson Plaza to hear speakers, including UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh and Dr. Kevin Quinn from the National Institute of Mental Health. Pro-Test co-founder J. David Jentsch, a UCLA professor of psychology and psychiatry, helped form the group last year after extremists came to his home and firebombed his car in the middle of the night. "I, like hundreds of other faculty, students and staff at UCLA, am a scientist who studies the biology and behavior of mice, rats or monkeys in my quest to better understand how the brain works. Because of this, I have been targeted by animal rights activists," Jentsch said .