Bare Protesters Bear Chill, Say ‘No!’ to Winter Wear

photo credit: Dvorah Nelson

By Dvorah Nelson

 

This is the third year of protests outside the Manhattan offices of the Canada Goose winter wear company.

“It’s long overdue for us to drop fur,” Ashley Byrne, associate director of PETA, the radical organization opposed to the use of animal skins and other forms of what they say are abuses of animals.

“As long as they’re here, we will be letting people know.”

PETA is an acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Protesters from other animal rights organizations stood with PETA activists on Thursday, holding signs with images of mutilated animals, in chilly 40-degree weather.

They shouted demands that the Canada-based company close its doors for good. Five of them stood wearing black leggings, combat boots – and little else – for close to two hours.

“Canada Goose kills” was written across each of their chests, in large black letters. By the end of the protest, they were visibly shaken, but they continued their chants. “Canada goose is not fashion, where the hell is your compassion!” they yelled. “Canada Goose has blood on their hands!”

“It’s really emotional,” said Felicia Greenfeld, one of the women. The Upper East Side mom said she was spurred to activism by her daughter, who had decided to become a vegan at a young age. “This is one of the worst brands,” Greenfeld said. “I hate being cold and I hate intensity, but I hate what they do more.”

There was a heavy police presence during the peaceful protest. Police directed the protesters to stay away from traffic. At one point, police officers stepped in to stop an attempt by the protesters to set off smoke bombs. Amanda Kahn, who showed up with her daughter and her mother, was happily surprised by the calmness of the protest and the police response. “Usually [the cops] wanna be assholes,” she said.

While many companies have stopped using animals for their products or have made their production processes less cruel, Canada Goose continues to use fur and provokes strenuous reaction from animal rights activists. A Brooklyn College librarian who identified himself by the name Leo Nardo, said Canada Goose is trying to “bringing back fur into the mainstream,” making it more affording and appealing to urban youngsters.

“Companies like Canada Goose consider themselves progressive,” he yelled into the crowd, “They claim they kill sustainably and ethically, (but) how do you claim the life ethically of an animal that does not want to die.”

“So many people buying Canada goose are not thinking about the cruelty behind the purchase,” said activist Margarite Lee, clutching her sign and a bag littered with vegan pins and stickers. Lee cares for wildlife all over New York, she said, and has a rat farm. “If more people saw it they wouldn’t buy,” she said. “We shouldn’t trap animals and destroy them.”

Canada Goose has not responded to requests for comments. Previously they have defended their use, claiming all materials are sourced ethically. Despite this, protests will continue on through Saturday, protesters said.