http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Union-Square-Shoppers-Hit-With-Protests-134513033.html

San Rafael, Calif. (November 23, 2010) – Fur Free Friday, the world’s largest annual animal rights demonstration, will take place this year on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Activists will greet shoppers with images of fur-bearing animals, urging them to avoid buying items with fur or fur trim. In Defense of Animals (IDA) coordinates this event, featuring 100 demonstrations around the world. Please visit http://www.furfreefridayida.org/2010events.html for details about regional events.

Activists will show video and photos depicting the ugly truth about the 50 million animals who suffer and die every year for their fur, and will display fur farm cages to illustrate the extreme confinement faced by animals raised and slaughtered on fur farms. In Beverly Hills, advocates will march down Rodeo Drive. In Portland, Oregon, a police-escorted march will pass stores that sell fur, complete with performances by the famous “Radical Cheerleaders.” And in Bangor, Maine, activists dressed in holiday attire will sing traditional holiday carols with animal rights-themed lyrics.

Many of the demonstrations will occur outside Nordstrom stores. IDA is urging Nordstrom to become the first department store to go completely fur-free. Fur Free Friday will also feature an online, “virtual” appeal to Nordstrom.

Over 45 million animals are now confined in small cages on fur farms, waiting to be killed by pelt-preserving methods such as electrocution, gassing, or neck-breaking. Another five million are caught in traps each year, often chewing off their limbs to escape, especially mothers desperate to return to their young. The fur industry is completely self-regulated, and no federal laws exist to protect animals killed for their fur.

“In the fur industry, the only thing worse than the manner in which animals are killed is the way they live,” said IDA Northwest Director Matt Rossell, who worked undercover on a fur farm. “There is no room for this type of suffering and violence for vanity. Any way you sell it, package it, dye it, trim it or cut it – fur is unnecessary and cruel.”

Popular designers including Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, and Juicy Couture have pledged to go fur-free, and retail chains H & M, JCrew, and Forever 21 have permanently halted their sale of fur. Recent victories leading up to this year’s Fur Free Friday include a pledge by Escada fashion company to be fur-free in 2011, and draft legislation that may soon ban fur in Israel. For more information about IDA’s anti-fur campaign, please visit: www.FurKills.org.

What:    Nordstrom fur-free outreach event
Where:  New Nordstrom Rack, at Centre at Post Oak, 5000 Westheimer Road,  Houston, TX 77056 (corner of Westheimer  and Post Oak)
When:   Thursday, February 25, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

“The Nordstrom family loves animals, and they have already made the right choice not to wear fur themselves,” said IDA’s Matt Rossell, who worked undercover for four months exposing horrific abuse on an Illinois fur farm. “But Nordstrom continues to have an ethical blind spot when it comes to embracing that fur-free ethic for their company.”

The Nordstrom family long ago removed fur salons from their stores after learning about the abuse of animals being trapped and farmed for their fur, and more recently the corporation has taken fur off their name-brand line of clothing. Nordstrom also sells a large collection of faux fur garments. However, Nordstrom continues to carry real fur on clothing from other designers, which is the sticking point preventing them from attaining fur-free status.

On fur farms, life in a tiny cage leads animals to go mad from confinement where they frantically pace, often self-mutilating or cannibalizing cage mates. Every natural instinct, such as the ability to run, swim, and interact socially, is denied these beautiful wild animals. In the end, they are killed by cruel slaughter methods including crude gassing, anal electrocution, neck breaking and poisoning.

Animals caught in steel-jawed traps and snares can linger in pain for days before a trapper come to kill them; some will even chew off a limb to escape. For more information, please visit www.furkills.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2010
Contact: Matt Rossell, matt@idausa.org, 503-890-5151

Activists will show video and photos depicting the ugly truth about the 50 million animals who suffer and die for their fur, and will display fur farm cages to illustrate the extreme confinement faced by animals raised and slaughtered on fur farms. In Los Angeles, advocates will march down Rodeo Drive. In Portland, Oregon, a police-escorted march will pass stores that sell fur, complete with performances by the famous “Radical Cheerleaders.” New York City will see a costume contest outside the midtown Macy’s.

Many of the demonstrations will occur outside Nordstrom stores. IDA is urging Nordstrom to become the first department store to go completely fur-free.

Advocates are reminding shoppers that animals suffer immensely for all fur and fur trim. Over 45 million animals spend their lives confined in small cages, waiting to be killed by pelt-preserving methods such as electrocution, gassing, or neck-breaking. In addition, nearly five million are caught in traps, often chewing off their limbs to escape, especially mothers desperate to return to their young. Activists want shoppers to understand that the fur industry is completely self-regulated, and that no federal laws exist to protect animals killed for their fur.

“In the fur industry, the only thing worse than the manner in which animals are killed is the way they are forced to live,” says IDA Northwest Director Matt Rossell. “There is no room for this type of suffering and violence for vanity, especially during the holidays. Any way you sell it, package it, dye it, trim it or cut it – fur is unnecessary and cruel.”

Many popular designers including Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, and Juicy Couture have pledged to go fur-free, and several prominent retail chains including H & M, JCrew, and Forever 21 have permanently halted their sale of fur.

For more information about IDA’s anti-fur campaign, please visit: www.FurKills.org.

Contact: Matt Rossell, 503-890-5151, matt@idausa.org