Star launches attack over lab
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| Morrissey |
Cult
singer-songwriter Morrissey branded Oxford "the shame of England" in an
attack on Oxford University's controversial animal res- earch lab.
The pop star spoke out against the laboratory, being constructed in South Parks Road, during a show at the New Theatre.
The musician, a strict vegan and animal rights advocate, also
issued a warning to anyone planning to work at the laboratory. "Make no
mistake," he told the audience at the packed theatre, "for anyone
working in the labs, we are going to get you."
The former frontman of 80s band The Smiths was in Oxford as part of
a national tour to promote his critically-acclaimed new album
Ringleader of The Tormentors.
When a member of the audience praised the Manchester-born artist
for defending animals, he responded by telling the crowd, "if you agree
with vivisection, go and be vivisected upon, yourself."
But he put down one vocal fan who called for vivisectors to be killed. "Oh, I see," he replied, "it's that simple is it?"
Steven Morrissey has been a public supporter of animal rights and
vegetarianism since the release of The Smith's 1985 album Meat is
Murder.
Earlier this year, the artist who now lives in Rome, was criticised
for comments attributed to him on fan website True To You, in which he
appeared to back what he called "animal rights militia," saying
violence was the only language fur farmers and laboratory scientists
understood.
| ‘If you agree with vivisection, go and be vivisected upon yourself’ | | Morrissey |
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This prompted Tory home affairs spokesman David Davis to call for a police investigation.
Referring to the media's reporting of his outspoken views, he told
the Oxford audience: "Because I have no identity I rely on the press to
tell me!"
Morrissey also sparked controversy in June 2004 when he broke the
news of Ronald Reagan's death to fans at a gig in Manchester, saying he
wished it had been President George W Bush who had died.
Robert Cogswell, Speak spokesman, described Morrissey as a very
vocal supporter of their campaign and said the group had been invited
to have a stall at the Oxford gig.
He said: "We agree with everything he said."
But Mr Cogswell made clear that when Morrissey said "we will get
you" he did not mean that people would be hunted down, but that they
would be exposed for what they do.
He added: "What they indulge in is actually animal abuse."
A representative for Morrissey, Stephen Ewashkiw, said that there
would be no further comment from the singer about the comments made in
Oxford.
No one from Oxford University was available for comment.
8:55am Monday 29th May 2006
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