Bill to help protect scientists

By Cynthia Lee

Legislation sponsored by UC to help stem the escalating number of terrorist attacks against researchers who utilize laboratory animals in their work passed its first hurdle April 17.

The bill (AB2296), which is being carried by Assemblymember Gene Mullin, D-San Mateo, at UC's request, would limit a tactic used by animal extremist groups to harass researchers and their families. It would prohibit anyone from posting on the Internet a home address, home telephone number or image of an animal researcher or any family members living in the same house.

The bill, titled the California Animal Enterprise Protection Act, would also give university employees the ability to pursue sanctions, such as injunctions, against those who post such information on the Internet.

The California Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 9-0 to pass the bill. It still needs a vote on the Assembly floor before it is sent to the State Senate for consideration.

Initially, the bill exempted from disclosure under the California Public Records Act information related to animal research activities when there is reason to believe this would result in harassment. But that provision, opposed by the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) and the ACLU, is being modified. The bill now includes a statement of intent to balance the public's right of access to information with the ability of researchers to work without fear of being harassed or threatened. UC and the author are continuing to work with CNPA on language that is satisfactory to all parties.

Chancellor Gene Block, who participated in a press conference last week to show support for the bill, said, "We're very frustrated obviously by threats to our investigators. We feel we're doing very important medical research, and we believe our investigators should be free to pursue that research without harassment of them or their families."

The nature of this campaign of terror was described for legislators in detail by Vice Chancellor for Research Roberto Peccei at the April 17 hearing. Although Peccei's research does not involve animals, he has been targeted because he oversees research at UCLA.

The attacks began after his home address and phone number were posted on an extremist Web site in 2006. "Masked terrorists came to my home, and, using bullhorns, chanted threats and screamed obscenities at me and my wife," he testified. Over time, there were more visits, and the intimidation escalated. "They pounded on my door, trespassed on my property, disturbed my neighbors and threatened my family. On a visit in July of last year at 3 a.m., they chanted, 'Roberto Peccei, you will never be safe.' "

Other UCLA scientists have fared worse, he told the committee. Firebombs have been left under the cars or at the homes of three researchers. Investigators have received packages containing razor blades in the mail. Extremists flooded one investigator's home with a garden hose. One scientist whose young family came under repeated attacks abandoned his research with primates. "In fact, some researchers who have been targeted were even unwilling to come here today out of the fear of reprisals," Peccei said. "This is not what you would expect in a free country."

Last February, UCLA obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting three groups and five individuals from harassing UCLA personnel. Last month, two individuals were arrested while protesting at a researcher's home and charged with violating the restraining order, police said. The criminal case is on hold until their claim — that the temporary restraining order is illegal — can be heard in court.

UCLA has not been alone. At UC Berkeley, police are investigating more than 50 incidents of animal-related vandalism at the homes of six scientists.

Six masked intruders tried to break into the home of a UC Santa Cruz breast cancer researcher during a birthday party with her children. "These individuals also assaulted her husband," said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal during the press conference. "This is just shocking behavior. It's what I certainly regard as ... the greatest threat to academic freedom that I've seen in the history of this campus."