An animal rights activist is facing serious legal backlash after executing what some might see as a theatrical protest during Harvard University's Alumni Day. Brittany Drake, identified as the activist behind the glitter bombing of interim President Alan Garber, is confronted with charges that might have lasting consequences.
During the May 31 event, as Drake unleashed a cascade of glitter upon Garber, her cries of "For the baby monkeys!" echoed, spotlighting her advocacy against animal testing at Harvard's labs. The spectacle, intended to draw attention to what she perceives as injustice, was cut short as she was escorted off stage and later arrested. According to Boston.com, she stands accused of assaulting a person over the age of 60 and malicious destruction of property, among other charges.
Following the incident, Garber displayed composure, reportedly saying off-camera, "It's fine. I could use a little glitter," while reinforcing the importance of free speech at Harvard. Drake, a 34-year-old Los Angeles resident, pleaded not guilty in Cambridge District Court and was ordered to maintain distance from the institution and the interim president as reported by the Boston Globe.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has expressed support for Drake's actions, denouncing the "shockingly cruel tests" on infant monkeys conducted in Harvard professor Margaret Livingstone's labs. In adverts published, PETA has accused the lab of abusing monkeys, which has been vehemently denied as misleading by both Livingstone and Harvard Medical School whose experiments with macaques have been a point of contention.
Drake is due back in court for a hearing on September 24, as the conversation around the ethics of animal research and the boundaries of activist protest continues to unfold. Despite being met with jeers at the time of the protest, Drake's outcry and resulting legal battle have reignited a fiery debate over the use of animals in scientific research and the extremities to which one may go to take a stand against it.
