On 9th November, Palestinian Solidarity Groups targeted Camden footwear stores to highlight that Caterpillar (bootmakers) also sell tanks and armoured vehicles to the Israeli army for use in suppressing Palestinian people in their own land. Promises made (and advertised on Indymedia) have been broken by the owner of Camden Bootstore.e
on 9th November, the 'rhythms of resistance' samba band, joined by players from Barking and Sheffield samba bands took part in a solidarity action in Camden. the full report of the day was on indymedia at 
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/280130.html
the day seemed to have been a real success, because of the promises from the owner of two shoe shops in Camden, a Mr. Shahid Butt who owns Future Designs Leather Company as well as Camden Bootstore and another shop a few doors down (see original post fo r full details).
Mr. Butt claimed that he had been unaware of Caterpillar's connections with weapons of death and repression in Palestine and now that he knew he would be returning all his current Caterpillar stock with a letter explaining why. He promis ed activists that he would give them a copy of the letter too.
Because of these apparently genuine promises, his business was left unaffected by the afternoon's protests, and he received much positive publicity on indymedia and other sites.
Unfortunatel y, the letter didn't materialise and efforts to contact Mr. Butt and get any comment or response from him proved difficult. At first he cited personal reasons, but then he started changing his promise and saying that he was just going to get rid of current stock (at a massive discount to get rid of them) and then not buy more. He also became abusive and started claiming that protestors were all on social security and what did they know of business.
The shops in question still stock Caterpillar goods and are selling them at the same price as they were. It appears Mr. Butt might have been making promises in order to move on the protests outside his shop, and this rather cynical behaviour is a big disappointment after the apparent success of the afternoon.
If you would like to contact Mr. Butt he is normally available at work after about 5.30 on 020 7729 8290, or you can send him an email on
futurelc@aol.co.uk.
If you would like to support Palestinian Solidarity actions, this Sunday 13th, from 1pm there will be protests at the Islington Business Centre (Angel) outside the 'Israel Expo' which is a day long fest offering holidays, property and business investments in Israel and the Occupied Territories..
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/280130.html the day seemed to have been a real success, because of the promises from the owner of two shoe shops in Camden, a Mr. Shahid Butt who owns Future Designs Leather Company as well as Camden Bootstore and another shop a few doors down (see original post fo r full details).
Mr. Butt claimed that he had been unaware of Caterpillar's connections with weapons of death and repression in Palestine and now that he knew he would be returning all his current Caterpillar stock with a letter explaining why. He promis ed activists that he would give them a copy of the letter too.
Because of these apparently genuine promises, his business was left unaffected by the afternoon's protests, and he received much positive publicity on indymedia and other sites.
Unfortunatel y, the letter didn't materialise and efforts to contact Mr. Butt and get any comment or response from him proved difficult. At first he cited personal reasons, but then he started changing his promise and saying that he was just going to get rid of current stock (at a massive discount to get rid of them) and then not buy more. He also became abusive and started claiming that protestors were all on social security and what did they know of business.
The shops in question still stock Caterpillar goods and are selling them at the same price as they were. It appears Mr. Butt might have been making promises in order to move on the protests outside his shop, and this rather cynical behaviour is a big disappointment after the apparent success of the afternoon.
If you would like to contact Mr. Butt he is normally available at work after about 5.30 on 020 7729 8290, or you can send him an email on
futurelc@aol.co.uk. If you would like to support Palestinian Solidarity actions, this Sunday 13th, from 1pm there will be protests at the Islington Business Centre (Angel) outside the 'Israel Expo' which is a day long fest offering holidays, property and business investments in Israel and the Occupied Territories..
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