The Hillgrove Campaign 1-9, 11-14 (1997-1999. Oxford, England)
The momentum of Consort spilled over into the next breeder campaign- a cat farm owned by the infamous Christopher Brown. The protests which occurred against his establishment were epic, and involved everything from encampments on the surrounding property to the cattery areas being raided. Legend has it that so many rocks were thrown at his house that the roof collapsed from the weight. The British government and local police had vowed to keep the Brown’s in the cat killing business, but the tenacity of campaigners proved to be too powerful. Hillgrove closed, and this publication was how the campaign celebrated and told people to be on the lookout for their next target. Within months of the publication of this final dispatch that target was made public: Huntingdon Life Sciences.
While this makes for invigorating reading, there are also disappointing, even racist moments in the newsletters. One example is Dr. Vernon Cole comparing being stopped by police during a lecture to the harassment and brutality faced by black youth in Britain- a false equivelancy that misses the mark by an offensive distance.
We are still seeking issue 10 of The Hillgrove Campaign. If you have it- or other publications of note- please contact us!