Friday, November 14, 2008

WAR Protests Vanity Fair Fur Event at Bloomingdale’s

Bloomingdale's - Maximilian Fur Salon

Lexington Avenue & 59th St. - New York City

First stop of the afternoon was Saks Fifth Avenue, host to an Escada concession along with numerous other fur killers. Timing was perfect, as Saks windows were full of Escada fashions, with Escada’s name prominently displayed on their Fifth Avenue windows. Many stopped to take pictures of the twenty protesters that were demonstrating against Escada and then took pictures of the Escada windows.

Thirty demonstrators gathered at Bloomingdale’s flagship store in New York City on 59th Street and Lexington Avenue to protest the cocktail party being held in Maximilian’s fur salon, co-sponsored by Vanity Fair Magazine. In this day and age, the promotion of cruel and inhumane fur products is unconscionable.

Bloomingdale’s main entrances on busy Lexington Avenue provided the perfect backdrop to the protest. Activists held graphic banners that read “Fur is Murder” and “Fur Shame” and spoke to many shoppers and passersby about the barbaric fur trade.

Several hundred flyers were passed out by an assertive team of leafleters. Activists pointed out that 95% of the world’s fur supply comes from China, a country with no animal welfare laws and a totally unregulated fur trade. This has led to undercover video reports of animals being beaten to death or skinned alive. China also kills dogs and cats for the fur. Dog and cat fur ends up in the USA illegally as it is mislabeled and passes through undetected.

“Stop the Insanity, No Blood for Vanity” chanted the loud chorus of activist voices. “No more cages, no more traps…..no more fur on Bloomingdale’s rack”…..protester’s shouts filled the crisp night air on Lexington Avenue. The demonstration attracted a lot of attention and many expressed their support with thumbs up signals and applause…..some even joined the demonstration and participated.

Even cars, taxis and buses that had stopped for traffic lights saw people leaning out of windows to chat with protesters and to request fliers. Many shook their heads in disgust at Bloomingdale’s after seeing the horrible pictures of the bloody mutilated remains of once alive and beautiful fur bearing animals. Activists were quick to educate interested passersby about the cruelty of the fur trade and the superior alternatives to wearing fur.

During the protest, a small group holding the highly graphic Fur is Murder banner entered Bloomingdale’s and made their way to the 4th floor Maximilian Fur Salon, where they were met by store security who asked them to leave the store. They were told that they were welcome to be in the store as long as they were not carrying any signs or banners.

Of note was the fact that several of the protesters were newly recruited to join the campaign to make New York City “Fur Free”. Win Animal Rights welcomes all who are dedicated to providing a voice for the innocent suffering animals.