[permalink]In what was billed as “June Justice,” animal rights activists, in international solidarity with the SHAC 7, protested the torture and murder of laboratory test animals at Huntingdon Life Sciences. The Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty or SHAC campaign is an international effort to shut down Huntingdon Life Sciences, Europe's largest contract research organization, which has gained international notoriety for its animal cruelty and bad science.

Chicago animal rights activists were not to be counted out as they stood outside the offices of Wachovia Securities at 30 S. Wacker and 77 W. Wacker baring signs that read “Wachovia Securities Kills Puppies” and “Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty” with images of vivisected animals (Warning: graphic photos! 1 | 2 | 3 | 4) from the labs of Huntingdon Life Sciences, while chanting, handing out literature, and letting people know that Wachovia Securities was responsible for the murder of 500 animals every day.

Why Wachovia? Wachovia Securities has shares of GlaxoSmithKline, which is a client of HLS. Robert Ingram, who sits on the board of directors for Wachovia Securities, also happens to be the vice president for GSK. Animal rights activists are demanding that Robert Ingram be removed from the board of directors and that Wachovia Securities sell all of its shares in GSK. Until this happens, protesters have stated they will continue their pressure campaign.

Part of the SHAC campaign involves a divestment strategy to eliminate support for HLS, which has been successful enough to drive the lab 80 million dollars into debt, run its share price into the ground, get it kicked off both the New York and London stock exchanges and convince hundreds of institutions around the world to sever their relationships with the lab.

If you would like to get involved and/or join the mailing list, please e-mail animalrightschicago@riseup.net. Read more about the Chicago actions.

Get the inside story on HLS: Inside Huntingdon Life Sciences
The SHAC Campaign: SHAC America | Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
Additional Information: ALF Communiqué on New York Action Against Wachovia | Bite Back | Animal Liberation Press Office | People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals | Vegan Outreach | Indybay's Animal Liberation Coverage | No Compromise