Monday, September 7, 2009 Labor Day Picnic & Protests in NYC: HLS Customer Bristol-Myers Squibb and Financier BDO Seidman Activists gathered in New York City’s Central Park to enjoy a Labor Day Picnic followed by protests. This has become an annual tradition for WAR and the camaraderie and good vegan food always fuel an afternoon of strong and spirited protest. Demo #1: James Cornelius - Chairman & CEO - Bristol-Myers Squibb Just a short distance from the picnic site is the opulent residence of James Cornelius, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Activists watched in amazement as a doorman rushed out to the street to wash away the aftermath of a small dog who urinated on the marble of the flower bed that lines the front of the building. The doorman mopped it up before the little bit of urine was even dry! Now that’s posh!!! Gives one an idea of how much they must relish our weekly protest. A large graphic banner was unfurled and posters displaying the bloody mutilated remains of brutalized puppies and monkeys were held high for all to see. Hundreds of flyers were distributed to the pedestrians, many of whom are visitors to NYC. As always, chanting was loud and bold. “Punching beagles in the face, James Cornelius, what a disgrace!” and “Your money….Your fault….Your contracts…..Your fault…..Your drugs…..Your fault”. Activists pointed up to Cornelius’ apartment as they chanted in unison. Many stopped to ask how they could help the campaign to stop the killing at Huntingdon Life Sciences. Many promised to make phone calls and write letters and some even vowed to stop using Bristol-Myers Squibb products. The reception activists received was warm and welcoming. The protest was filmed and photographed by two European filmmakers, who are working on a documentary about the United States. WAR organizer Camille Hankins was interviewed on camera and had lots to say. No doubt both HLS and Bristol-Myers Squibb will be thrilled that they will be featured in the upcoming documentary. Demo #2: Lamberto Andreotti - President & COO - Bristol-Myers Squibb Next stop was the nearby building of Bristol-Myers Squibb President and Chief Operating Officer Lamberto Andreotti. Since Andreotti’s building is right on Central Park West, this location is always a popular one and one that has been visited many times by activists. Once again, posters were held high and hundreds of flyers were distributed to the many pedestrians strolling down the avenue. Although many residents have come down to the street to find out what was going on, once they know about the 500 animals killed by Huntingdon Life Sciences daily, they express support and solidarity. But, there is always that one moron that feels that his or her afternoon nap is more important. Such was the case this afternoon, when a cranky bad neighbor decided to pester protesters by throwing glasses of water at the protesters from a high balcony. Activists are used to this kind of lame annoyance and continued until a full bucket of water was thrown. This led to a call to the local police precinct to report the assault. Police entered the building and sought out the perpetrator. The remainder of the protest was uneventful. Perhaps she learned her lesson. It is against the law to assault a protester whether or not you agree with them, they do have a right to speak their mind on a public sidewalk. All that was accomplished was to pump up the volume and to keep the protest going 45 minutes beyond its natural end point. Demo #3: Chris Bard - Consultant - BDO Seidman Last location of the afternoon was the nearby residence of an executive of one of WAR’s newest targets, BDO Seidman. BDO has enabled the financially battered Huntingdon Life Sciences to continue their killing spree, by funneling and laundering loan funding, which has kept them solvent until now. Of the 3 locations today, this one was probably the most densely populated. The building doorman, who insisted that the activists had to leave because the sidewalk belonged to his building, delivered a comic moment. When that did not work, he came back and threatened to call the police. Activists encouraged him to do so and went back to their work. His last visit to the protest line was to tell the activists that the person they were protested was not living in that building. Strange since that is his legal residence! After the protest was over, police arrived just in time to see the activists packing up and to wave and wish them a good evening. Activists promised the distraught doorman that they would be back soon and that they would stay longer next time! Video Clips: James Cornelius - Bristol-Myers Squibb |
|
