MORE DUBLIN DIRECT ACTION
the path | 15.10.2001 12:36
There was a victory for direct action methods on Saturday afternoon in Dublin, Ireland.
Upmarket Grafton Street department store Brown Thomas, its 'youth' branch BT2, and A-Wear were targeted. Five protesters went into the ground floor of Brown Thomas and distributed leaflets to the shoppers, calling for a boycott of BT and BT2, as they stocked animal fur coats in their shop.
One protester dressed as Death carrying a bloodied axe, while another dressed as a fox. They chased each other around the store while leaflets were given out. A store manager tried to stop them getting to the first floor (where the furs are kept) but they managed to get upstairs and distributed more leaflets. They then left by a back stairs and regrouped on Wicklow Street outside.
The campaigners then handed out leaflets outside the door of BT and had placards showing animals killed for fur.
Then, the Fashion Director/Manager of BT approached the protesters, and invited them in to discuss their claims. He then agreed in theory to stop stocking furs where animals had been killed specifically with the purpose of making furs only. He also asked for further information on the companies that were involved with this practice.
The anti fur trade campaigners are going to get back to BT with more detailed info and hopefully BT will be true to their word.
Might have some photos from inside the shop soon (only a few taken before the floor manager tried to stop pics being taken), will post them up if I get a copy of them.
regards
Upmarket Grafton Street department store Brown Thomas, its 'youth' branch BT2, and A-Wear were targeted. Five protesters went into the ground floor of Brown Thomas and distributed leaflets to the shoppers, calling for a boycott of BT and BT2, as they stocked animal fur coats in their shop.
One protester dressed as Death carrying a bloodied axe, while another dressed as a fox. They chased each other around the store while leaflets were given out. A store manager tried to stop them getting to the first floor (where the furs are kept) but they managed to get upstairs and distributed more leaflets. They then left by a back stairs and regrouped on Wicklow Street outside.
The campaigners then handed out leaflets outside the door of BT and had placards showing animals killed for fur.
Then, the Fashion Director/Manager of BT approached the protesters, and invited them in to discuss their claims. He then agreed in theory to stop stocking furs where animals had been killed specifically with the purpose of making furs only. He also asked for further information on the companies that were involved with this practice.
The anti fur trade campaigners are going to get back to BT with more detailed info and hopefully BT will be true to their word.
Might have some photos from inside the shop soon (only a few taken before the floor manager tried to stop pics being taken), will post them up if I get a copy of them.
regards
the path
e-mail:
the.path@gurlmail.com
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Peaceful protest = angry policeman
15.10.2001 13:57
It was also the first time I'd seen real police aggression...how come peaceful protest automatically means angry cops?
Cheryl
cheryl
e-mail: curtlin@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/ladyfestglasgow
Garda taking aggressive stance
15.10.2001 16:18
Stephen was saying the mounted copper on Grafton Street was being abusive towards you (I missed this, had to run off to the Indymedia meeting at the other end of town!). What was he saying/doing?
For anyone else reading this, here's a link cut from Cheryl's page about the anti fur organisation in Ireland:
http://www.cafteire.net/
regards
the path
e-mail: the.path@gurlmail.com
Homepage: http://thumped.com/thepath
Pictures
19.10.2001 12:41
Robert
e-mail: ifo@cafteire.net
Homepage: www.cafteire.net
BT and Angry Police
05.11.2003 00:54
As for the angry police, don't we have a right to peaceful protest in Ireland? Did these protesters destroy anything in the shop? In fact, quite the opposite, they had a discussion with the manager.
It is NOT illegal to dress up in costume.
It is NOT illegal to enter a shop in a group.
It is NOT illegal to run.
Why were the police involved?
Why were the police angry?
Maybe one of the protesters in the shop was smoking a cigarette and the police thought it was January, I suppose I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
Steve