Friday Feb 3rd

The Neiman Marcus
Campaign Update

2001 marks the third year of COK's participation in the nationwide campaign to convince Neiman Marcus to close its fur departments. Despite on-going campaigns in ten cities, Neimans still refuses to even meet with us to discuss the possibility of a resolution to these efforts. Indeed, COK sends monthly letters to the Neiman Marcus corporate headquarters asking for dialog. The letters are either ignored or responded to by the same form letter.

As a result, the campaign has intensified in D.C. and across the country. With Britain's announcement that it has outlawed fur farming, U.S. animal rights activists are more determined than ever to wage the anti-fur campaign in this country. Countless protests and acts of nonviolent civil disobedience have plagued Neiman Marcus, garnering extensive negative publicity for the company. Should Neimans continue refusing to, at the very least, meet with us, the campaign will be forced to continue tarnishing the corporation's reputation by exposing its role in the bloody fur industry.

Corporate animal cruelty will not be ignored, and our efforts won't cease until Neiman Marcus goes fur-free.

Here are just a few highlights from D.C.'s Neiman Marcus campaign this season…

COK's FaunaVision TV/VCR Seized

A COK activist reads the D.C. legal code allowing the presence of the FaunaVision TV/VCR to the police officers threatening to confiscate the outreach tool.

COK's anti-fur protest at the D.C. Neiman Marcus on 4 November 2000 was the site of a virtual militarized zone around the perimeter of the store with several D.C. police officers as well as at least one FBI intelligence agent monitoring the entire demonstration.

About 35 activists picketed the store, urging Neimans to adopt a fur-free policy. Despite COK's having used the FaunaVision TV/VCR at nearly every protest held at the D.C. Neiman Marcus during the past two years, one police sergeant decided that storing it on public space—the sidewalk—was no longer acceptable. This decision ran counter to the fact that D.C. allows individuals to store items on public property for up to two hours (Title 24, section 111.1 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations).

Showing blatant disregard for the first amendment, the officer, along with about 15 of his cohorts, seized the FaunaVision for the duration of the protest, causing damage to the expensive piece of equipment in the process. An official complaint has been filed by COK with the D.C. government, and an investigation is in progress.

30-Foot Banner Dropped!

On 9 December 2000, as more than 20 activists picketed in front of the D.C. Neiman Marcus, a large banner was dropped from the hotel directly across the street reading: FUR KILLS / BOYCOTT NEIMAN MARCUS / www.neimans.org.

Scores of passersby learned of the role Neiman Marcus plays in the barbaric fur industry.

The banner was removed after approximately 30 minutes. D.C.'s ABC television affiliate (WJLA-channel 7) attended the protest.

Anti-Fur Activist Locks-Down at Neiman Marcus

Moments before the D.C. Neiman Marcus was scheduled to open its gates at 10:00 a.m. on 16 December 2000, an anti-fur activist locked herself to the gate at the main entrance, preventing access to the store from the ground level.

After about 25 minutes, rather than waiting for the fire department to arrive and cut the chain, security guards took matters into their own hands by cutting Neiman Marcus's security gate. The activist was charged with felony destruction of property and spent two nights in jail before her arraignment. Needless to say, the prosecutor didn't buy the destruction of property charge and dismissed the case.

Fur-Free Christmas at Neiman Marcus

Similar to the shopping craze right after Thanksgiving, the days just before Christmas tend to nourish the spirit of consumerism in Americans more so than other holidays. As such, for the third year in a row, COK participated in the Fur-Free Christmas campaign.

To learn more about the campaign to make Neiman Marcus fur-free visit www.NeimansKills.com.

Every minute Neiman Marcus was open during the three days before Christmas-for a total of 29 hours-at least three COK activists, two with a banner and one to leaflet, remained at the main entrance of Neiman Marcus, encouraging consumers to leave Neimans' products off their holiday gift lists. Not only did braving the cold allow activists to empathize with the plight of animals on fur farms who have no relief from extreme weather conditions, but it reminded Neimans that we aren't going anywhere until it goes fur-free.

Let Neiman Marcus know you oppose its role in the fur industry!

Call Neimans at 1-800-937-9146 (ask for the executive office) and tell them why you won't be shopping there until a fur-free policy is adopted.

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