AMHERST — A continued effort by animal-rights activists opposed to experiments involving marmoset monkeys on the University of Massachusetts campus led to a brief disruption of a talk in Florida by the system’s president Monday evening.
Shortly after UMass President Marty Meehan began his address at an in-person alumni event at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, four members of People for Ethical Treatment for Animals held signs condemning what they consider to be monkey torture at UMass Amherst, and began chanting “shut down the monkey lab.”
Footage provided by PETA shows Meehan suggesting that he would engage in a conversation after the event. “If we could talk afterward, that would be great,” he said.
The protesters left after a short time and were eventually escorted from the property.
UMass has said that the marmoset research meets federal standards for animal research and is vital for helping promote the health and well-being of humans, especially as they age.
Amanda Hays, a spokeswoman for PETA, said that no discussion between its representatives and Meehan took place, since they were forced to leave the site.
“PETA is now writing to Meehan asking him to honor his commitment to talk,” Hays said, adding that the organization sent a letter to Meehan’s office in October requesting a meeting.
Meehan’s office referred questions about the laboratory use of monkeys to the Amherst campus.
Before being interrupted, Meehan spoke about the pandemic causing a challenging two years for the operation of a large university system, and also the hope he has.
“I’m very confident that we’re going to emerge from the pandemic a stronger institution than we were at the beginning of it,” Meehan said.
While the PETA action occurred in Florida, Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates and UMass Students for Animal Liberation are planning a second protest on campus Wednesday, following one held in February.
The rally will begin at noon at the Student Union and head to the Morrill Science Center, where they say the lab is located.
“UMass needs to end these gruesome experiments and switch to modern research that might actually help humans,” said Sheryl Becker, founder of the regional animal rights organization.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
