Saturday, April 26, 2008 World Lab Animal Liberation Week Wrapup Weekend – III Demo #1: Staples - 1280 Lexington Ave. A dozen activists gathered at the most popular of Staples’ upper eastside locations, to deliver the message that supplying the puppy killers at Huntingdon Life Sciences is unacceptable. Once again, hundreds of flyers were distributed and the strong educational component of this years World Week observances was in full force. Strong voices rang out in unison…”500 animals died today, greedy Staples is to blame” and “We will never back down, until they stop the killing”. Many stopped to chat and to ask questions which campaigners were only too happy to answer. After having their questions answered many made calls to Staples toll free number right there on the spot. Demo #2: Noemi Rosa - Novartis - International Marketeer The group then traveled down to midtown Manhattan where they arrived at the luxury hi-rise apartment building of Novartis International Marketing, Noemi Rosa. The wide circular drive allowed activists to hang their banner in plain view of the building lobby. Many of Noemi’s building neighbors came downstairs; many had their dogs with them, to find out the cause of the protest. By and large, the majority was supportive. One young lady was so taken by the action that she joined in and stayed with activists handing out flyers and speaking to her neighbors. One sour note was injected when the fourth of a stream of police patrol cars stopped at the protest. One particularly obnoxious and self-inflated police officer insisted that proof of faxed notification to the police precinct three days in advance was insufficient notice. He kept pointing to his badge to justify giving us misinformation about the protest permit ordinances in New York City. Activists remained undaunted and unconcerned by the massive police presence that was meant solely to intimidate them into silence. Demo #3: Staples - Union Square Next stop was another popular Staples location. This one located at the popular Union Square. Again, many flyers were distributed and many took a moment to sign the petition against HLS. A chorus of loud voices rose above the heavy traffic allowing the message to be heard from all four corners of Union Square. Support in this neighborhood couldn’t be any stronger being a regular hangout for other social justice activists. Judging by the number of shoppers that have turned away from Staples doors when they learn of the connection between Staples and HLS, the company must be getting the message. This leads us to wonder whether they are just not listening to the complaints of their customers or they just don’t care. “We’ll be back, Staples”….rang the chanting voices….”Until the killing stops or Staples cuts their supply line to HLS”. Demo #4: Wayne Merkelson - General Counsel, Novartis Normally, WAR tries not to return to the same residential area more than twice in any given month. In the case of Wayne Merkelson and his dour and nasty building, activists made an exception. No telling why this is the case, but it seems that the crankiest and most insensitive people in the city have clustered together in this building. Some of the craziest people ever have confronted activists at Wayne’s 10th Street and Broadway apartment building. Saturday was no exception as a gnomish/trollish elderly man came tearing out of the building to scream at the top of his lungs at the activists who were in the middle of staging a peaceful legal protest. He actually went so far as to manhandle one of the female activists as he screamed into her face…”DO YOU EAT MEAT?….DO YOU EAT MEAT?….DO YOU EAT MEAT?”. Activists have learned that you cannot have a rational conversation with crazy people like that, so the activists just answered by chanting…”First amendment is our right…We will not give up this fight”. Crazy building residents will not deter us. They only make us stay longer and shout louder. Video Clips: |
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