For Immediate Release
March 12, 2007
Wachovia Securities Executive Attacked by ALF in Portland
Firm Invests in Huntingdon Life Sciences’ Customer GlaxoSmithKiline
Portland: In an anonymous communique received by the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, Animal Liberation Front (ALF) activists have claimed an attack on a Wachovia Securities executive for his company’s role in supporting animal testing. Wachovia invests heavily in GlaxoSmithKline, one of the largest customers of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), Europe’s largest contract animal testing company. According to the communique, activists spray-painted the home and automobile of Wachovia First Vice-president Jason Bratt during the early hours of March sixth.
Huntingdon Life Sciences has been exposed in six consecutive undercover investigations abusing animals, violating animal welfare regulations and killing 500 dogs, primates and other animals every day testing such products as oven cleaners and pesticides. Before losing their NYSE listing in September, the company had lost their listing on the London Stock Exchange over four years ago, after a sustained campaign by activists who exposed atrocities occurring inside HLS facilities.
The communique concludes:
Jason Bratt is the First Vice-president of Wachovia Securities in Portland Oregon, an investment firm which owns over half a billion dollars in shares in GlaxoSmithKline. GlaxoSmithKline is the largest customer of Huntingdon Life Sciences. This is a warning to Wachovia; sell your shares in GSK or the ALF will continue to target the homes and property of your employees.
Dozens of investment, insurance and banking firms, including Charles Schwab and Co.,TD Waterhouse and Marsh Inc. have ceased trading in HLS shares (OTC: LSRI) or doing business with HLS after being targeted by activists and learning of the company’s involvement with animal cruelty.