Many thanks and well done to everyone who made the anti-fur march and rally in London such a big success yesterday, Saturday December 1st. At least 250 anti-fur protesters took the anti-fur message right to the heart of the UK's fur retail trade. Protesters came from as far afield as Manchester, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Cambridge, Oxford, Norhampton, Devon, Wales and Gloucester to support the march.
After a rally with speeches in Belgrave Square, the marchers made for an impressive sight, carrying big banners and placards, and accompanied by drums and whistles, and the chant of "Fur Trade Death Trade" echoed around the streets of Knightsbridge.
Big crowds of shoppers and tourists gathered to watch as the procession wound its way along Sloane St and Brompton Rd, past some of the most notorious retailers and designers of fur, including Gucci, Prada, Escada, Versace, Fendi, Joseph, Armani and Burberry.
Large groups of police stood guard outside the front of each shop on the route which sold fur, making it easy for the protesters to identify the guilty stores.
When we we reached Harrods' huge department store, the sound grew even louder as the marchers chanted "Boycott Harrods" and "Shame on Harrods", and here a big crowd of onlookers stopped their Christmas shopping and sightseeing to watch the demo and take the leaflets.
Then the march stopped and the protesters gathered in front of Harrods where the noise suddenly stopped as we observed a minute's silence in memory of the many thousands of fur bearing animals who will die for fashion this year because of Harrods' pro fur policy.
It was a powerful moment as the normally busy and hectic A4 main road went quiet, as even the crowds of onlookers kept quiet for the most part and joined in the silence.
It was the biggest and best anti-fur march we've held for many years, and we hope for an even better turnout and event next year.
For more pictures of the march see
http://www.caft.org.uk/furmarch/index.html
Big crowds of shoppers and tourists gathered to watch as the procession wound its way along Sloane St and Brompton Rd, past some of the most notorious retailers and designers of fur, including Gucci, Prada, Escada, Versace, Fendi, Joseph, Armani and Burberry.
Large groups of police stood guard outside the front of each shop on the route which sold fur, making it easy for the protesters to identify the guilty stores.
When we we reached Harrods' huge department store, the sound grew even louder as the marchers chanted "Boycott Harrods" and "Shame on Harrods", and here a big crowd of onlookers stopped their Christmas shopping and sightseeing to watch the demo and take the leaflets.
Then the march stopped and the protesters gathered in front of Harrods where the noise suddenly stopped as we observed a minute's silence in memory of the many thousands of fur bearing animals who will die for fashion this year because of Harrods' pro fur policy.
It was a powerful moment as the normally busy and hectic A4 main road went quiet, as even the crowds of onlookers kept quiet for the most part and joined in the silence.
It was the biggest and best anti-fur march we've held for many years, and we hope for an even better turnout and event next year.
For more pictures of the march see
http://www.caft.org.uk/furmarch/index.html
Homepage:
