This year's Fur Free Friday demonstrations brought people from all walks of life together to speak out against the cruelty of killing animals for fashion. As it has been since 1986, this national day of action was held on November 24th, the day after Thanksgiving, which is also called "Black Friday" because it is the busiest shopping day of the year. IDA supporters and local organizers coordinated a total of 43 Fur Free Friday activities in 20 states (as well as one in France) to help animals exploited for their fur. Most were held in front of stores that sell fur to reach consumers directly and dissuade them from buying fur.
Here are just a few of the ways that IDA supporters from around the U.S. celebrated Fur Free Friday in 2006:
Oregon
About 150 people took to the streets of Portland to expose the fur industry's cruelty. Northwest IDA organized the demonstration, which marked the one year anniversary of the ongoing weekly protests at Schumacher Furs. NW-IDA coordinator Matt Rossell spoke forcefully about the incredible cruelty and callousness involved in the raising, killing and skinning of these animals. After a rally outside of Schumacher, activists visited various shops that sell fur, including Nicholas Ungar Furs, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. They also gathered across from Pioneer Square to educate shoppers about how animals' bodies are turned into fur garments.
Get photos, videos and more information about the Portland protest:
Photos and news coverage
Watch video footage
Massachusetts
Over 50 activists attended a Fur Free Friday protest in Boston at Neiman Marcus hosted by the Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition (MARC). The MARC "Fur Hags" (wearing fur coats and creepy masks) were reportedly a big hit, garnering many supportive comments from the public. The demonstration was attended by a diverse mix of seasoned activists and first-time protesters, as well as everyone in between. The next day, 22 activists lined the highway in front of the Holyoke mall to educate shoppers about fur cruelty.
California
In Los Angeles, IDA coordinator Bill Dyer spearheaded a demonstration of about 120 activists for the annual anti-fur demonstration. Attendance was augmented thanks to members of Last Chance for Animals, making this the biggest turnout in 10 years. The protesters started at the intersection of upscale Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills and headed south to Wilshire Boulevard, passing about 30 stores that sell fur along the way, handing out literature and showing video footage along the way. "Holidays are a time for celebration and reverence for life," Dyer told CBS news, "so we're calling on shoppers to respect all life by not buying fur."
About 30 protesters with San Diego-based Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL) held anti-fur signs and handed out leaflets to shoppers at the Fashion Valley mall, where Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Burberry have stores. APRL spokesperson Bryan Pease told the Union Tribune that "For every fur coat made, an average of 40 animals had to die."
IDA held our traditional San Francisco Fur Free Friday protest again this year in Union Square, the city's fashionable shopping hub, where dozens of activists showed up to hold signs and banners and hand out leaflets to passerby. Our display included a literature table near a massive banner, donated fur coats and stuffed fur-bearing animals in wire cages illustrating the conditions in which they are raised on fur farms. The protest was covered by KTVU Channel 2, and Pacifica radio station KPFA aired a brief interview segment with IDA's Anita Carswell.
Colorado
About 50 people came out to protest in front of the Neiman Marcus store in Boulder for this year's Fur Free Friday. 31-year-old construction company director Donnie Hutchinson drew the interest of curious shoppers by dressing in a fox costume while one woman wore a body-screen TV showing images from fur farms and others handed out leaflets. Organizer David Crawford, executive director of Rocky Mountain Animal Defense, told the Rocky Mountain News, "If people saw fur farms or traps and the blood in the snow, they would choose not to wear fur."
Other major cities that participated:
What You Can Do:
- If you hosted or participated in a Fur Free Friday activity, we want to know about it so we can publicize your event on our website, www.furkills.org, and inspire others to take action. Please send details and photographs of your event to antifur@idausa.org.
- IDA encourages people to take action not only on Fur Free Friday but throughout the fur season by leafleting, holding film screenings and using other methods to make a compassionate statement. Our seasoned campaign coordinators would be glad to assist you with planning and publicizing activities. View and order posters, leaflets, fur cards or stickers and other materials to use as outreach tools in your community.
