Animal rights activists outnumbered by police

Keith Paul

Thursday, March 22, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

Animal rights activists protesting on the Strip Wednesday and today were outnumbered by Metro Police by a 2-to-1 margin. Police say they were just being prepared in case of trouble.

Seven protesters were arrested Wednesday; five were charged with trespassing and two others were charged with battery and obstruction, said Sgt. Christopher Darcy, a police spokesman.

The protesting in front of the Monte Carlo hotel-casino was peaceful, as activists handed out fliers against an investment banking group that has a stake in Huntingdon Life Sciences -- a lab the activists claim cruelly conducts tests on animals.

Five of the protesters were arrested when they refused to leave Desert Inn golf course property. The protesters had followed members of the banking group to the course Wednesday.

Metro said the buildup of about 50 officers following around the 20 or so protesters was done in part because police had received some information that some of the protesters may be members of more militant groups, such as the Animal Liberation Front -- a group that has claimed responsibility for some arson fires and break-ins at labs to free animals in Northwest states.

But protesters said they were only there to express their opinion about Stevens Inc., the investment company involved with Huntingdon Life Sciences. Stevens Inc. officials and investors are in Las Vegas for meetings.

"We just want to educate the investors of what is going on at Huntingdon," said Gina Lynn, an animal rights activist. "We're not out here to do anything that is violent."

Stevens officials have been the target of animal rights activists before. Frank Thomas, a company spokesman, said the company is aware of the activists' concerns but says Huntingdon is conducting testing required by the Federal Drug Administration on new pharmaceutical drugs.

Darcy said Metro wanted to make sure they were prepared in case something occurred other than activists peacefully handing out fliers or holding signs.

"If we have information about specific groups planning protests, it is incumbent upon us to be prepared," Darcy said.

The Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberations Front members have claimed responsibility for crimes against labs in the Portland, Ore., area, said Special Agent Kevin Favreau of the FBI domestic terrorism squad in Portland.

But In Defense of Animals, which endorsed the protest in Las Vegas, said its members don't encourage violence.

"If those groups are planning anything they aren't going to let anyone know," said Barbara Stagno, director of programs for In Defense of Animals, based in New York. "We don't support violence and we don't support militant activities. You can yell and you can show anger, but we don't support violence or causing danger."