Sunday, March 25, 2007

WAR Continues to Pressure Baker & NYSE

Demo #1 - Andrew Baker, CEO of HLS

It was a beautiful Spring Sunday on Central Park West, when we unfurled are large 15 foot “Andrew Baker: Puppy Killer” banner and took out our graphic posters and signs. Strong voices were raised in chants saying……”Puppy Killer, Leave Town” and “We will never back down, until you stop the killing”. Many passersby stopped to find out why we were there and many others who know us from past protests stopped to thank us for carrying on the fight. After talking to one of our activists at length, one gentleman suggested ways that we could improve our outreach by having double sided signs and banners. Great idea and we are working on implementing it soon.

Although we realize that the Bakers couldn’t care less about the suffering and the cruelty that goes on at Huntingdon Life Sciences because of them, it is always edifying to educate their neighbors. We can’t tell you how many have looked at the building in disgust knowing an animal abuser lives among them on Central Park West. We wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank the animal friendly neighbors on Central Park West. Your encouragement and support make our demonstrations memorable.

Demo #2 - Nicole Brier, Sanofi Pasteur - Liaison

Our next stop was the brownstone home of Sanofi’s Nicole Brier. Some of Nicole’s neighbors came out of the building to ask some questions and take some flyers about the connection between Sanofi and Huntingdon Life Sciences. HLS kills the animals but Nicole’s company pays them to do it. Without contracts the animal exploitation at HLS would come to a screeching halt. Our thanks to the NYPD officers that came to our assistance when a rabid irate neighbor came down from an adjacent building and assaulted our videographer, who was roughly pushed and almost had the camera knocked out of her hands. Quick action by the NYPD prevented what could have easily turned into a brawl as a dozen activists were ready to take defensive action of their own.

Demo #3 - Dale Bernstein, Senior V.P. – NYSE

On West End Avenue and 82nd Street, we stopped at the hi-rise building of New York Stock Exchange Senior Vice President, Dale Bernstein. This is a very supportive and friendly neighborhood and many stopped to chat or to ask questions and read out signs and literature. After explaining the connection between the New York Stock Exchange and their connection to the animal torturers at Huntingdon Life Sciences, most shook their heads in disgust and vowed to contact the NYSE. Our chants rang out over West End Avenue…..”500 animals died today, Dale Bernstein is to blame”. Neighbors encouraged us to keep up the pressure. One neighbor came out to ask specifically if his company was a financial supporter of HLS. He was happy to find out that they were not.

Demo #4 - Rachel Robbins, V. P. & General Counsel – NYSE

Last stop of the afternoon was the home of Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, Rachel Robbins. Once again many of Rachel’s neighbors stopped to ask us why we were protesting at Rachel’s home. Besides being heavily populated by animal lovers, this neighborhood has its fair share of financial gurus. Many stopped to ask us specific questions about HLS and their recently released 2006 year end report. Most were amazed (just as we are) that LSR (Life Sciences Research aka Huntingdon Life Sciences) was even admitted onto the NYSE. Rachel Robbins was no doubt a part to the decision and as such will be a regular stop on our West Side visits.

A special thank you goes out to activists that traveled from Rhode Island to attend the protests and to those activists that we havent seen for awhile. We appreciate your time and continued support.