Sunday, June 4, 2006

WAR Visits Pfizer & GSK Execs in NYC

Demo 1 - Pfizer Chief Financial Officer – Alan Levin

Our first stop this sunny Sunday afternoon was the Upper East Side home of Alan Levin Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee of Pfizer. Traveling with us was a journalist with a major New York alternative news and entertainment weekly. A lively raucous demo followed and hundreds of fliers were distributed to passersby.

Demo 2 – Pfizer Vice Chairman – David Shedlarz

Next we visited the home of David Shedlarz, Vice Chairman and second in command of Pfizer. The doormen of David's posh building called his apartment as we attempted to deliver a packet of information about the atrocities committed by Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that Pfizer maintains a business relationship with. David wasn't home but the doormen told us that they would make sure that Shedlarz received the packet when he returned home. We explained that a peaceful demonstration was going to take place in front of their building. They said that wasn't possible and we explained that it was not only possible, but was about to happen.

A noisy demo followed as we reached out to David's neighbors. Some were very receptive to our message and were horrified by the graphic images and photos from HLS. Others seemed more concerned that we were making noise for 30 minutes of their precious Sunday afternoon. We explained that the animals suffering at HLS don't get Sunday off. We told them that as soon as Pfizer stopped supporting the puppy killing scum at HLS, we would not come back.

Demo 3 – Pfizer Medical Officer – Nina Hill

Not far from David Shedlarz's home is the home of Dr. Nina Hill. We were anxious to return to this location because the last time we visited we were met with support and encouragement by Nina's neighbors. The streets were crowded with Nina's neighbors, many of whom were walking their dogs. Most asked for quantities of literature (which includes a listing of Pfizer's products) so they could spread the word about the Pfizer product boycott. We hope to hear from Nina soon. If she is anything like her compassionate and caring neighbors, she is probably just as horrified about Pfizer's relationship with HLS murderers as we are.

Demo 4 - Pfizer Marketing Executive – Melissa Grigorieff

Pfizer's Marketing Director Melissa Grigorieff is someone we have visited a number of times in the past. We normally do not spend a great deal of time at this location, limiting our demos to 10 – 15 minutes. Usually these demos are pretty quiet….well, not this time.

Neighbors, incensed at having their Sunday afternoon disturbed by our expression of our first amendment rights, decided that they would attempt to stop the protest. Without provocation, adult men and women verbally and physically assaulted protesters. Water was thrown out of a window. A doorman came out spraying a carbonated beverage all over protesters, including our videographer for the event and our camera. A young protester was pushed and sprayed with the bottle. Another man got up in our faces and shouted “Get the f*ck out of here” and “Get the f*ck away from my building”. One man spit at the protesters and then threatened to call the police. We were anxious for police to arrive, as we wanted them to see the videotape of the protesters being assaulted. Police never came. No doubt we will be back at this location as soon as possible.

Demo 5 – Director – GlaxoSmithKline –Deryck Maughan

Although anticlimactic, we couldn't pass by Deryck Maughan's building on Park Avenue without stopping for a short but lively protest. As a member of the GlaxoSmithKline Board of Directors, Deryck has influence on GSK management decisions. GSK continues to be a primary Huntingdon Life Sciences customer. GSK is a company that we find worthy of protest not only because of their relationship with the animal abusers at HLS, but also because of their scandalous and unethical behavior in their own right. Stay tuned for more information on GSK's shameful history and human rights violations.