Saturday, September 20, 2008

Offensive Fifth Avenue Furriers Feel Full Activist Wrath

Demo #1: Fendi – Fifth Avenue

Although Fendi is not one of WAR’s regular campaign targets, the insulting and disrespectful attitude of the employees of Fendi have guaranteed it a regular spot on WAR Fur Free New York City agenda. On the last visit to this location, sales associates embarrassed themselves and their employers by sashaying around in the second story Fendi display window overlooking the sophisticated shoppers of Fifth Avenue.

Fendi management must have been mortified to discover that their employees were taunting protesters and offending just about everyone who witnessed their low-class and trashy performance. A performance that was made even more disgusting as it became apparent that employees were not wearing underwear!

Activists that gathered there were determined to make their voices heard. The protest was loud and animated and many flyers were distributed to shoppers and other pedestrians. “Fur Trade, Death Trade”….shouted the protesters, who were gratified to see that many shoppers made the compassionate choice to pass Fendi’s by. “We will never back down, Fendi’s until you stop the killing!”. It is guaranteed to be a long, long fur season for Fendi’s.

Demo #2: Escada - Fifth Avenue

Back to the target of the international campaign to convince Escada to choose compassion and go fur free. Activists took their familiar places along the sidewalk in front of Escada and voices were raised bringing much unwanted attention to the beleaguered international fashion chain.

Once again, activists took note of the fact that the Fifth Avenue flagship Escada store was not very busy….not very busy at all. Employees who used to laugh at and taunt the protesters went about the business trying the best to look busy, the lack of customers making it very hard. After a good 90 minute protest and bored at the lack of customers at Escada protesters moved the protest over to Madison Avenue.

Demo #3: Dennis Basso - Madison Avenue

The last protest of the day was at the revolting showroom of notorious Fur Ghoul, Dennis Basso. As this has been a WAR target for quite some time, employees of Basso’s fur mausoleum know better than to laugh at the protesters. They have learned from experience that this just makes the protest more vitriolic, much louder and most importantly much, much longer. Loud voices were raised in unison……”No more cages, no more traps….No more fur on Basso’s racks.”

The stupid employees at Basso’s have a new strategy. As soon as protesters arrive, they immediately get on the cell phones and call all of their friends. Their friends then high-tail it over to Basso and pretend to be customers. Only problem with this plan is that no one ever buys anything and activists recognize all the old familiar botoxed faces. You know the kind with the perpetual frozen smiles and skin that looks so taut you could bounce a quarter off of it? The tables have finally turned and now the protesters are laughing at the desperate antics of Basso employees to look busy.

As usual, police were called and when they arrived, activists were surprised to see that their Precinct Commander joined the squad cars. The Lieutenant asked for the “Protest Permit” and after a short conversation about the fact that no permit was required for such a small protest, it was allowed to proceed as it had been.

Activists wondered this tactic of asking for a “Protest Permit” works when used against other activists that are not quite as knowledgeable about local ordinances. “We’ll be back, Basso……You can count on that”….activists chanted as they wrapped up an afternoon of anti-fur action.