Saturday, June 21, 2008 WAR Launches Staples Weekend of Action in New York City at 3 Key Staples Stores Demo #1: Staples @ 1280 Lexington Avenue First stop of the day was at Staples flagship Upper Eastside location at Lexington Avenue and 86th Street. A steady stream of pedestrians coupled with a busy street with lots of traffic, including double decker sightseeing buses, make this a perfect place to call attention to Staples shame. New signs and a new banner helped activists explain the connection between Staples and the animal abusers at Huntingdon Life Sciences. Hundreds of flyers were distributed on this busy street and many conversations were held between demonstrators and shoppers. As has often happened in the past, the activists were given assurances by many that they would call Staples to complain and that they would stop shopping at Staples until they break their ties with Huntingdon Life Sciences. “500 animals dies today, greedy Staples is to blame” shouted the activists in strong loud voices. “500 animals murdered in vain, greedy Staples is to blame”. Demo #2: Staples @ 425 Park Avenue A short subway ride away, activists came to the upscale Park Avenue location of another Staples outlet. Once again, many flyers were distributed with the attention garnering headline “Staples Lies, Beagles Die”. New full color posters showed the graphic bloody results of Huntingdon Life Sciences murderous business. Staples customers were shocked and some took their printing jobs to the Kinko’s down the street rather than continue to do business with Staples. Staples website says: “What's Staples Soul?”…. Their answer….”Staples Soul reflects our commitment to corporate responsibility. It's a holistic approach to business that recognizes the close connection between our financial success and our desire to make a positive impact on our associates, communities, and the planet…” Staples has several web pages detailing their corporate ethics and the care with which they screen their own suppliers and vendors. Why then do they respond to customer inquiries with a form letter that basically says that they will sell to “anyone” that wishes to buy from them. This is both inconsistent and hypocritical. How long will Staples continue to sell out their “Corporate Soul” by continuing to deal with the scum at Huntingdon Life Sciences? Demo #3: Staples @ 800 Third Avenue The final protest of the afternoon was held at another upscale Staples at Third Avenue and E. 50th Street. The expansive plate glass window gave Staples employees and customers a birds eye view of the protest on the sidewalk outside their door. Activists unfurled their large graphic banner showing the bloody mutilated remains of a beagle puppy killed by the sadists at Huntingdon Life Sciences. Other posters explained the connection between Staples and HLS. Many stopped to chat with activists who, once again, distributed hundreds of colorful flyers. Two Staples employees, who were helping a customer into a cab, took flyers and showed a genuine interest and concern for what they saw on the posters and banner. The shocked look on their faces showed that they were disturbed by what they had learned. Sadly, an uncaring Staples manager was having a hissy fit and desperate to get them back in the store before activists could fully answer their questions. Good to know that all Staples employees are not cold-hearted morons. Activists vowed to return to this busy popular location in the future. ”We’ll be back”, they chanted as they packed up their signs and banners and left after a long day of Staples actions. Video Clips: Staples @ 1280 Lexington Avenue |
|
