Demo Reports: Thursday, December 15, 2005

The evening started with a festive dinner meeting at the NYU Vegan Winter Wonderland Buffet. After good food and the camaraderie of almost a dozen fellow activists and the WAR crew was ready to hit the road.

Our first destination was the now familiar twilight zone where Ellen DeNicola of American Century Investments resides. Each time we visit this place, the level of hostility and animosity increases. We wonder if someone is tampering with the water in the neighborhood. If ever a neighborhood needed homeopathic and herbal remedies for neuroses; it's this one.

A young protester had words with a large hulking doorman, who ran into the building lobby and returned aggressively brandishing a baseball bat. There was no reason whatsoever for such a belligerent response. Of course, we called "911' and reported the threatening behavior to the NYPD……"Duh, silly us. They didn't come". Luckily all the time we kept the film rolling and videotaped the entire madness for use in potential litigation. We weren't there more than a few minutes when angry neighbors came down into the lobby, pushing and shoving activists who doggedly maintained their positions and just ramped up the volume so they could be heard over the screaming of the neighbors. They will never learn. The louder they scream, the louder we scream and the longer we stay.

Needless to say, we had several "anonymous" e-mails from Ellen in the Centcom mailbox as soon as the demo was over. Whaa-whaa-whaa. You know what we want Ellen. A simple statement from an officer of American Century and we will go away.

Our next destination was the posh building of GlaxoSmithKline Board Member Sir Deryck Maughan. Since it wasn't our first time here, the lobby crew (there are several goon like doormen) knew that calling the police to have of us removed was an exercise in futility. A loud yet peaceful demonstration ensued. Things got a little crazy when multiple resident fur hags came home from their evening festivities and had to walk the gauntlet of activists. Shouting and shaming followed. A brief pushing match turned into an assault on one of the protesters. We stood our ground.

Best part of the night was to watch the doormen fly across the sidewalk to the taxicabs pulling up to the door to warn those with bad enough taste to wear fur. Fur were rolled into balls and stuffed under the doorman's arms as he scurried to escort the women into the building. The vile nature of these people was exposed when one man swore that no one in the building wore fur, while his date hid her fur under the doorman's arm. Bald faced liars. Another place we don't mind coming back to.