Sunday, January 18, 2009

In Solidarity with SHAC 7 UK - Day 2

Protests Against Huntingdon Life Sciences Investors Continue

Fur Scum Dennis Basso and MaxMara Visited Again

Demo #1: MaxMara

Thankful for warmer temperatures (if you call 27 degrees warmer), Win Animal Rights returned to the streets to raise a ruckus on behalf of the thousands of animals trapped inside Huntingdon Life Sciences as well as the millions waiting to be skinned alive on fur farms throughout the world. Activists arrived outside the doors of Max Mara, wanting to say hello after a brief protesting hiatus. As always, the chants reached far and wide, "Hey Max Mara, what do you say?! How'd you torture your fur today?!" "Gassing, trapping, anal electrocution!"

One idiot decided to ruin the fun, expressing his opinion that fur was fantastic. Naturally he was walking two dogs as he was offering his ridiculous comments. It is a shame that so many people out there see no problem with the atrocities committed in the name of fashion, especially those with companion animals. It makes one wonder how caring these people are with their animals, if they can so callously walk by images of horrible cruelty.

Demo #2: Dennis Basso Fur Salon

After Max Mara, the protesters walked down Madison Avenue to see their good friends at Dennis Basso's fur salon. As with recent encounters, the Basso goons were more reserved than in months past. They must no longer be in the good graces of the police. The activists, however, received an unfriendly greeting from other residents in the area. This frontrunner for the douchebag of the year award starting throwing snowballs at the activists from a balcony across the street.

He had the audacity to do so in front of the police, and even continued after being threatened with arrest. Like so many times before, however, the authorities decided not to pursue the aggressor. While it's very disappointing, it's going to take a lot more than snow to scare off these dedicated activists.

Demo #3: James O’Connor, Portfolio Manager – Bank of New York Mellon

Demo #4: Matthew Biben, Executive – Bank of New York Mellon

Following the fur protests, the activists changed course and marched over to the homes of two Bank of New York Mellon employees, Mr. James O'Conner and Mr. Matthew Biben. It turned out that both men lived in buildings right next to each other. Mr. O'Conner, a Portfolio Manager, and his neighbor, Matthew Biben, a high level executive, both needed to be informed that people will not tolerate their financial support for the primate killers at Huntingdon Life Sciences.

The trend of conscientious doormen continued when doormen from Biben's residence and the adjacent building walked over to speak to the protesters. Both were very sympathetic. The man from Mr. Biben's building took a bunch of flyers to alert other residents. He felt confident that Mr. Biben would convince his company to divest as soon as he realizes his part in the abuse. Cross your fingers!

Literature was distributed to many who passed by. Some took the flyer and walked on, while others stopped to chat and ask questions of the activists. Many declared that they would reach out to their neighbor to help influence them to take a compassionate position and cut Bank of New York Mellon’s ties with Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Demo #5: William Jordan, Banker - Well Fargo

The afternoon concluded outside the home of Mr. William Jordan, at Wells Fargo, also one of the top five institutional investors of Huntingdon Life Sciences. He certainly must have been surprised when he heard through his window, "500 animals died, today, William Jordan is to blame!" The demonstrators sent Mr. Jordan a brief but important message. "If you want to get some rest, cut your ties with HLS!"

Finally, with snow falling softly around the protesters, the last chants were heard…..”We’ll be back, Wells Fargo!”.