Sunday, October 26, 2008

Scary Science Week begins at home of Wicked Witch of the Westside, Dorothy Watson and Fur Ghoul Dennis Basso

Demo #1: Dennis Basso – New York Fur Ghoul

As the Halloween season approaches, what better place to prepare for the day of ghouls and goblins than to visit New York City’s #1 Fur Ghoul, Dennis Basso. Basso lives in the luxury Beresford building at 211 Central Park West. He lives in the ground floor corner unit (#1G) and even has his own private entrance to the building….all the better to hear activists at his door! “No more cages, No more traps….No more fur on Basso’s racks!”….chanted the loud protesters.

Last time activists visited Basso, local police called to the scene advised the activists that Basso no longer resides in the building. This time activists were told that Basso is away weekends. Might be a good idea to get the stories straight, ya think? A short time after the activists raised their voices to name and shame Dennis Basso, multiple squad cars arrived right on cue. It was easy to see where the mayday call came from as police approached an irritated millionaire who had called from his limousine. One look at the doorman’s face (see picture in right hand column) and all could tell that he was not a happy camper.

A police officer approached activists and told them that the doorman had advised them that activists were required to be 100’ from the front door. Activists advised the officer that this was not the case and requested that he call the NYPD legal department for verification. The protest proceeded until an NYPD Sergeant arrived to question the activists about their “permit” to protest. After advising him that no permit was required, the protest was back in full swing with activists chanting….”First Amendment is our right, We will not give up this fight”.

Although originally scheduled to be at this location only for a short time, it was decided to stay to take advantage of the attention garnered by having multiple police cars in attendance and blocking the entryway to the building. The Sergeant told the protesters that this was a high profile location, especially as it sits across the street from the popular American Museum of Natural History. All the more reason to come back often!

Demo #2: Dorothy Watson – General Counsel Novartis

Second stop of the afternoon was the home of Dorothy Watson, General Counsel for Huntingdon Life Sciences premiere customer, Novartis. Dorothy has been dubbed the Wicked Witch of the West Side making her a perfect target for what the folks at SHAC are calling “Scary Science Week”. In Dorothy’s old neighborhood (Chelsea), she was well known and reviled by most of her neighbors, who described her as being “bitter”, “nasty” and “self-centered”. It was thanks to one of those neighbors that activists were able to find her new digs on the Upper West Side.

Despite numerous home visits to Dorothy’s upscale building, The Alexandria at 201 West 72nd Street, she has never made an attempt to dialogue with protesters. Since Dorothy resides in the penthouse apartment, protesters feel that they must be louder at this location in order for her to hear their message. A large vivid banner portraying the brutalized and mutilated remains of a once living beagle puppy was held for all of her neighbors to see.

The sound of the protesters voices filled the air….”500 animals died today, Dorothy Watson is to blame” and “For the cat and for the mouse, we are here outside your house”. Activists have promised to continue these demonstrations until Novartis cuts its bloody ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Although it is the target of a massive worldwide campaign of repression, the campaign to stop the killing at Huntingdon Life Sciences will continue until the last drop of blood is shed at the death camps of HLS. The protesters expressed their resolve this way: “You can put our friends in jail, WE will drive the final nail.”