Friday, November 28, 2008 Fur Free Friday Goes Global WAR Participates in First Annual Worldwide Fur Free Friday The first protest of the day was scheduled for Escada on Fifth Avenue. Escada has been the site of numerous protests in the past 15 months and is the target of an international campaign. When activists arrived at Escada, they found not yet erected barricades, lining the sidewalk, in front of the storefront. Activists raised their signs and their voices and began chanting and distributing literature. Police insisted that they had to erect the barricades prompting activists to insist that they would just leave and come back later.  Following the somewhat abbreviated Escada protest, activists traveled along Fifth Avenue spending time in front of each of the most heinous fur purveyors on the Avenue. At each location, activists were able to get close to shoppers in order to have conversations with them, to explain the horrors of the fur industry. Many had questions about the sustainability and the environmental impact of fur having heard the industry advertising campaigns which promote fur as green and eco-friendly. Protesters were happy to set the record straight and to explain the devastating environmental degradation caused by the fur tanning process. Protests were held at the following:
The group traveled from location to location with graphic signs of bloody skinned animals shocking many shoppers and pedestrians. Thousands of consumers got a real up close look at what is left when an animal has his or her fur brutally ripped off. Hundreds of flyers and pamphlets were distributed. Any fur wearer who had the misfortune of crossing their path (and there were a few) will not soon forget the experience. When activists arrived at Saks Fifth Avenue, they named and shamed all of the resident boutiques hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue including: Escada, MaxMara, Dolce & Gabbana among others. After hours of walking and chanting, activists packed up their signs and headed off for a coffee break. The NYPD contingent that followed the protesters down Fifth Avenue headed off into the sunset as well. After short and much needed rest, protesters headed back to Escada where a full protest was held without police barricades. Again, activists feel that the barricades create an artificial barrier making harder to communicate with potential shoppers. Escada employees were not happy, as they thought they had gotten away scott-free on Fur Free Friday. Nah, ain’t gonna happen, Escada!  Fired up and with renewed vigor, the voices of the activists were raised in unison……Hey Escada, what do you say?…How did you kill your fur today….Gassing, Trapping, Anal Electrocution”. The crowd was largely supportive and many crowded around to get literature and to have their picture taken with the protesters. Charged up by the splendid and supportive response at Escada, activists crossed Fifth Avenue and concluded their day of action with a highly spirited protest at Prada. Although unable to sell seal fur products in the USA, Prada supports the Canadian baby seal slaughter and markets seal products outside of the United States. |
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