By Kimberly Peterson

Arizona Daily Wildcat

April has been historically recognized as Animal Rights Month, and previous protests at the UA and other institutions have university police preparing for anything to happen.

But a local animal rights group says there is no need for police to worry.

There is not an official "animal rights" month, said Tilly Shields, president of the Tucson chapter of Voices for Animals, a group advocating animal rights.

Instead, World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week lasts from April 24th to the 30th, Shields said.

And Voices for Animals has only one major event planned for the week, their 10th annual candlelight vigil on April 30 in front of University Medical Center.

The vigil was created to bear witness to the thousands of animals she said are killed there. Yet, the vigil is usually peaceful and does not necessitate more police.

"They always hire extra security," Shields said. "I guess they think we're going to storm the Bastille."

Still, the University of Arizona Police Department is securing any campus buildings involved in animal research with extra surveillance the entire month, said Harry Hueston, UAPD assistant chief.

"From a historical standpoint, because of the amount of demonstrations or criminal destruction that the university has suffered in relation to the time of year, we've spent some time talking and refreshing memories of what occurred and how to deal with a variety of situations," Hueston said.

In April 1989, 16 animal rights activists chained themselves across the main gate of the Tucson Veterans' Administration Medical Center. A local chapter of the Animal Liberation Front also claimed responsibility for fires in the UA Pharmacy building and in the Animal Research/Care Headquarters.

Shields said no major protests have occurred since 1989, and the Animal Liberation Front is not functional anymore.

UAPD is still wary of any future occurrences.

"We've been in contact with other universities to ascertain what they are finding on their campus," Hueston said. "We have targeted patrol areas that we have increased the police going to and checking on."

Such areas include UMC and the Central Animal Facility, he said.

Still, the UAPD does not have the funds for extra security for this month, and will rely on their usual staff, Hueston said.

"I don't have a pool of resources that I can call upon," he said. "We have an assigned number of people and that doesn't change."

Regarding the week, one Voices for Animals member explained how the group views its purpose.

World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week is a time when people at the UA can voice grievances that they have about animal testing, said Brad Rothrock, a studio art senior and Voices For Animals member.

"I'm angry all the time when I have to pass UMC or Shantz (building) and know that there are animals suffering," Rothrock said. "I wish I could protest all year long." Read Next Article