PreLabs, a contract research organization with facilities around the country, was the target of a recent local animal-rights activist protest.
The protest walk was held Tuesday, July 17 at noon, starting at PreLabs in Oak Park, 33 Chicago Ave., and continuing to the exterior of village hall.
According to the group, one of PreLabs’ facilities in Florida tortures, kills and transports monkeys to other facilities. The Oak Park lab, the group suspects, may be connected to such actions. The march was held in solidarity against the Florida site.
Frank Smetana, a Downers Grove resident and one of the group’s informal members, said Oak Park was chosen since the lab is in an urban area and would get the most attention of the Illinois locations. The march to village hall was planned so local leaders and residents could hear about the problem.
The group of “concerned citizens” does not have an official name, he said.
“We’re marching to village hall to tell why [PreLabs] is not OK,” Smetana said. “In general we are against animal testing.”
At noon Tuesday, the group walked to village hall. Attempts to reach a representative at PreLabs were unsuccessful.
