LONDON: Activists marched down London's Knightsbridge and Chelsea areas on Saturday in an effort to show their disappointment and anger at a number of shops selling furs. Notably, the activists pointed their shaming tactics at Harrod's. The activists, over 300 in total, marched through some of the world's most famous shops including Armani, Dolce and Gabana, Chanel and others, but Harrod's department store was the number one target for the use of fur in their shops. The group paused outside Harrod's while the organizers, Campaign Against the Fur Trade (CAFT) gave a short speech, stating that they hope the new owners of the store would re-think the companies policy on selling animal furs. Following the short speech, there was a minute silence. Then the group decided to hold a sit-in protest to get their voices heard. Police then pushed the protesters away from Harrod's, where the activists continued to Chelsea. “We were here to show the owners that there are many people out there that refuse to have animals killed for their fur,” Sarah Evans, a Welsh animal rights activist, told Bikya Masr. Along the path, the activists stopped at a number of shops and held moment's of silence for the millions of animals that have been slaughtered for their fur. Statistics show that some 28 million animals are used worldwide for fur annually, with the vast majority being mink. In one mink coat, between 30 and 70 animals are slaughtered and killed. “It is horrific that this sort of behavior continues,” said Keilan Wallace, a Scottish animal rights activist living in Dublin. “I think that getting the word out and informing people is the best way to go and this sort of paint on the streets will definitely get people at least thinking of what they are doing. Maybe it will change minds.” BM
