On 22nd October the West Yorkshire Animal Rights Group (WYARG) turned up at the Next One Leather store in Leeds to continue the spree of regular demonstrations outside the shop, as part of the campaign to end their sale of fur. After holding posters and handing out leaflets, security staff arrived to kick the protest outside, however the owner of Next One Leather invited campaigners into the shop to discuss their concerns about the sale of real fur.
The store was completely fur-free and campaigners were reassured that real fur would not be stocked ever again and a statement to confirm so would follow suite. The victory comes two days after police raided two houses of animal rights campaigners in Leeds, following vandalism against the fur shop owner’s home. Animal Liberaion Front (ALF) activists said in an anonymous communique they spraypainted the doorway, paint stripped his car and slashed the tyres. Police claim the message painted read “Fur Scum”.
Related articles: ALF Visit Fur Shop Owner At Home | Fur Campaigners Raided in Leeds | Third Demo this Week for Next One Leather | Activists Back at Next One Leather | Next One Leather Campaign Kicks Off With Demos | New Campaign to Stop Next One Leather Selling Fur | Focus On Next One Leather – It’s Time for Action
Links: Next One Leather Campaign | West Yorkshire Anti-Fur Campaign
The campaign against the store included demonstrations against the shop and its key supplier the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) who offer banking facilities. Since the launch of the West Yorkshire Animal Rights Group (WYARG) in August Best Vintage, Room 7, Accent Clothing and TK Maxx have stopped selling fur and Daniel Footwear have promised to follow suit.
An Introduction: Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) carries out direct action against animal abuse in the form of rescuing animals and causing financial loss to animal exploiters, usually through the damage and destruction of property.
The ALF’s short-term aim is to save as many animals as possible and directly disrupt the practice of animal abuse. Their long term aim is to end all animal suffering by forcing animal abuse companies out of business. It is a nonviolent campaign, activists take all precautions not to harm any animal (human or otherwise).
Because ALF actions may be against the law, activists work anonymously, either in small groups or individually, and do not have any centralized organization or coordination. The ALF consists of small autonomous groups of people all over the world who carry out direct action according to the ALF guidelines.
