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MORE DUBLIN DIRECT ACTION

the path | 15.10.2001 12:36

Anti fur trade protest gets results

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

the path
- e-mail: the.path@gurlmail.com

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Peaceful protest = angry policeman

15.10.2001 13:57

First protest I've been to and the fact that the Brown Thomas guys decided to do something about their fur amazed me but also makes it more important for people to keep opposing things they don't agree with because sometimes you're actually listened to.
It was also the first time I'd seen real police aggression...how come peaceful protest automatically means angry cops?
Cheryl

cheryl
mail e-mail: curtlin@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/ladyfestglasgow


Garda taking aggressive stance

15.10.2001 16:18

Cheryl, it seems as if since Sept 11 the Garda have been extremely intolerant of any sort of protesting on the streets. The Public Order Act (which is what people were charged under on Sept 22nd Car Free Day, Sept 29th Critical Mass, Oct 10th PPP, and Oct 13th AntiWar) came into effect in 1994 but was really only used in relation to the militant anti abortion group Youth Defence. But literally in the last month the Garda seem to have adopted a zero tolerance policy.

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
mail e-mail: the.path@gurlmail.com
- Homepage: http://thumped.com/thepath


Pictures

19.10.2001 12:41

I've just put the photos from the protest up on the page (www.cafteire.net). They're not great quality, but they get message accross....

Robert
mail e-mail: ifo@cafteire.net
- Homepage: www.cafteire.net


BT and Angry Police

05.11.2003 00:54

I have to say that I am not actively involved in these protests, but fair play to all who are. It is a disgrace that people buy clothing from animals that were killed for 1 purpose. To make clothes!

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