Saturday, August 23, 2008

WAR Focuses on LSR Investor Barclays Global Investors & Staples

Demo #1: Staples – 800 Third Avenue

Activists began their afternoon of animal advocacy at a prominent Manhattan branch of Staples Office Supplies. Although this is not one of their larger locations, the heavy foot traffic and vehicular traffic of Third Avenue make it a perfect place to reach the public. Hundreds of flyers were distributed to a largely sympathetic crowd.

Demo #2: Kevin Baer - Barclays Global Investors

Next up was the luxury high-rise building of Kevin Baer, Trader at Barclays Global Investors. Last time activists visited, approximately three weeks ago (August 3, 2008), they were told that Mr. Baer was out of town for the weekend. This time the story changed, as activists were told that Kevin Baer had moved away some time ago. Since this is something activists hear routinely from doormen, it did nothing to stop or impede the demonstration.

Many building residents expressed disgust for the continued use of animals for toxicity and product testing. Many promised to contact Barclays to ask them to divest of their shareholding in LSR. Despite the fact the demonstration was peaceful and totally in compliance with both local ordinances and court restraining orders, the NYPD arrived and attempted to stop the protest. After short discussions and at least one threat to arrest everyone if they did not leave the protest, the patrolmen apparently changed their minds and “allowed” the protest to continue.

Demo #3: Joy Hou - Barclays Global Investors

With police officers following, activists moved to their next and final destination of the evening…. A return visit to the home of Joy Hou another of Barclays Traders. The building doorman was quick to come out and tell activists that Joy Hou had moved out of the building some time ago. Interesting that both Joy and Kevin have supposedly moved months ago even though both building confirmed their residence only 3 weeks ago!

Once again, ice cubes and larger chunks of ice were hurled on protesters from an open window/terrace. The hurlers had bad aim though and hit the NYPD patrol car instead. Instead of turning their anger on the ones throwing things out the window, the police turned their anger on the demonstrators.

Again, a peaceful legal demonstration was the target of NYPD repression and strong arm tactics as police continuously interrupted to tell activists not to step off the curb even though the activists in question were either crossing the street to speak to neighbors or hand them flyers, or, in one case to photograph the demonstration. In one case, an activist was told that he could not speak to a neighbor who had stopped their vehicle in order to find out more about the protest.

As activists prepared to wrap up the demo a nasty piece of neighborhood trash approached the demonstrators to give them a piece of her small mind about how the protest was frightening her small children….the same small children who were playfully giggling and scampering around the sidewalk during the entire conversation….not looking or acting the least bit frightened. The loud mouthed woman kept harping away until out of frustration, the posters and banner were unloaded and the protest went back to full swing. Having been drowned out by the raised voices of disgusted activists, the idiot finally left.