In mid-January, a small but enthusiastic demo was held outside "Snow and Rock" on Princess Parkway, in a bid to encourage customers to complain about the company selling real animal fur. Throughout the protest, there were many hoots of support from passing traffic - all these potential customers of Snow & Rock are now fully aware that this store is to be boycotted! Since the store is on a main road leading to the motorway, the traffic flows very quickly so cars slowing down to go into the store causes problems for the rest of the traffic. For this reason, the protesters felt it was better in terms of traffic safety to leaflet on the actual property so when the cars stop they are not stopping in the main road to get leaflets. However, the manager came out to complain to protesters about standing on about 1" of their property and stomped off to call the police!
When the police arrived, they were very pleasant and tried to establish why the store was still being picketed when the manager had told them that this particular store was no longer stocking fur "because of the demos". The police were informed, as was the manager, some weeks ago, that until the company stops selling fur as a whole (and not just withdrawing it from this store) and issues a statement confirming they will not sell fur again in the future, then there would be continued demos at all their stores around the country. The police were satisfied with the response and soon left; the protest carried on as before and successfully turned away a few customers, with many more customers saying they would be complaining!
Demos are still happening at Snow and Rock on a regular basis, please contact MAP if you would like to join these peaceful protests. You can also contact Snow and Rock to ask that they implement a no-fur policy as soon as possible. Explain that you will boycott them until they do so. Their head office is at The Rock, 2 Thornberry Way, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1QB (Tel: 01483 445 335, fax: 01483 445 356, dion.taylor@snowandrock.com) or email the Manchester manager direct (MA.Manager@snowandrock.com).
Several hundred compassionate people from around the country, including Manchester, gathered in Oxford at the end of January to voice their opposition to Oxford University building a new animal lab, which will include provisions for primates.
The crowd was vibrant and determined: no one in Oxford that day would be able to overlook the passion of feeling against building this atrocity. Many people were dressed as builders, highlighting the fact that anyone who has any involvement in the construction of this laboratory are not innocent by-standers but are guilty of allowing such crimes against animals to be committed. If individuals and companies alike do not condemn the horrific practices that go on inside animal laboratories, then they condone them.
Oxford University has claimed that work will re-commence in the near future and even though the government are threatening to bring out more legislation to further stifle lawful protest, the animal rights movement will not sit back and let this hell hole be built.
Speeches kicked off the march, and upon arrival at the site of the half-built lab, more speeches were heard. On the way back to the meeting point, the police started to get heavy-handed and were trying to ride horses into the back end of the march. This stopped the march for a while, until the police retracted slightly, but were still trying to get their feet into the backs of protesters as they peacefully marched. The march arrived back at the meeting place to the solemn pace of a single drum beating; this was highly effective to passers-by.
All in all, the day was a huge success; giving out a determined message to Oxford University!
Manchester Animal Protection (0845 456 2492, info@mapsoc.org.uk)
SPEAK campaign
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