Hundreds march to say NO to FUR in London

Saturday 17th October 2009

Around 300 anti-fur activists took part in the annual National Anti-Fur March in London organised by CAFT on Saturday 17 October. Once again the march was around the streets of Knightsbridge, which is where most of the exclusive fashion retailers and purveyors of the bloody fur trade have their headquarters.

After meeting for a rally in Belgrave Square, the march set off to the sounds of drums, whistles and megaphones, and chants of "fur trade death trade", and "fur and your back blood on your hands". Well done to everyone who made up banners and placards for the day as well, it was a very impressive sight, and the mood was lively and vibrant.

 

(click Youtube link (left) for video) Soon we emerged into the infamous Sloane St, along which many of the infamous names in fur and fashion are based. In quick succession we marched past shops such as Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabanna, Dior, Gucci, Yves St Laurent, Prada, Fendi, Joseph, Escada, Cavalli. Each one of these was was left in no doubt that they were the reason for all the anger and noise in Knightsbridge on this day.

All along the route thousands of shoppers and tourists gathered to watch the parade, the crowds were 3 or 4 deep along Sloane St and Brompton Rd. While most of us marched, other campaigners were busy handing out anti-fur leaflets to inform the spectators why we were there, many thousands were distributed along the route.

The police presence was less noticeable than in previous years, and although it was lively and loud, there was no trouble and no arrests. However the guilty shops were taking no chances and each one was guarded by a row of police officers, making it easy to indentify which shops had a dirty secret to hide.

Turning from Sloane St around Knightsbridge tube station, we were soon passing the large Brompton Road branch of Burberry, and they too were loudly booed and jeered by the marchers.

A little further down Brompton Rd we came to our first stop of the afternoon at Harrods department store, one of the biggest shops in the world, and the only department store in the country still selling fur. Here the crowds of onlookers were huge, and shouts of "Shame on Harrods" could be heard all around the area. At Harrods we stopped for a short speech, and a minute's silence in memory of all the countless animals tormented and killed just so Harrods can continue to sell fur.

Further down the road still, we stopped at South Kensington for another minute's silence outside several adjacent branches of Joseph Ltd. This London-based company has 15 shops throughout London, and more than 60 outlets in 5 countries, so is a major contributor to the fur trade.

Two hours after we set out, we arrived back in Belgrave Square, still as lively and vibrant as when we began the march.

All in all it was a very successful and worthwhile day. We sent a clear message to all the shops in Knightsbridge that fur is not acceptable.

Keep an eye out for news about next year's march, but in the meantime don't forget that anti-fur activists are busy all year round trying to stop the fur trade, so please please support them when you can, contact us for details of your local group.