Posted on 06/08/2008 5:05:40 PM PDT by markomalley
With Schumacher Furs and Outerwear gone, animal-rights activists say they are working to drive downtown Portland's last remaining fur salon out of business.
Saturday protests led by a fledgling group called the Portland Animal Defense League outside Nicholas Ungar Furs at 1137 S.W. Yamhill St. have intensified in recent weeks. The next one is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today.
Unlike the rancorous 15-month campaign against Schumacher's, which activists insisted was about education and outreach, the group says the prime objective this time is ridding downtown of "an outdated industry."
"Basically 20 years ago, there were about 20 full-service fur salons," said Tim Fox, an Animal Defense League spokesman. "Now downtown Portland only has one left. As the public learns the truth about the cruelty of the fur industry, I think most people will want them out, too."
Unlike Greg and Linda Schumacher, who were eager to confront the protesters and talk to the media about what they saw as an unfair attack on their business on Southwest Morrison Street, Ungar Furs owner Horst Grimm declined to comment.
When the store was contacted, someone calling himself only "the manager" said, "Our general policy is not to make comments."
Sgt. Brian Schmautz, a Portland police spokesman, said he wasn't yet aware of a single disturbance complaint about the protests.
"No one has come up to me and said this a problem," Schmautz said, noting that the Schumachers' reaction to demonstrators outside their store may have led to much of the tension.
Among other things, demonstrators say they're protesting what they claim is Ungar's practice of selling fur from animals that have been gassed, anally electrocuted, had their necks snapped and have been skinned in inhumane ways.
Since last winter, the protests outside Nicholas Ungar Furs has grown from a handful of demonstrators to up to a few dozen every weekend with signs, chants and at least one heated exchange with Grimm.
The store was closed Memorial Day weekend, Fox said. But a group still showed up to write "educational messages" on the sidewalk in chalk. A message on Portland's Indymedia site read: "The animals used for Ungar's unethical products do not get holidays off, and Ungar Furs will not get any Saturdays off."
At the same time, In Defense of Animals, one of the driving forces in the epic Schumacher's faceoff, has decided to sit out this one. Matt Rossell, spokesman for the group, said he doesn't agree with the new protest's ultimate drive- 'em-out-of-business mission.
"Our goal was never to shut down Schumacher's. We're watching what's happening, but we felt a lot of education has already been accomplished because of the Schumacher protests. A lot of people in Portland have formed their opinions one way or another."
He also said Ungar Fur's location, away from most of downtown's shopping and heavy foot traffic, "isn't as advantageous" as Schumacher's. After the Schumacher's protests, Rossell said he intended to "create a dialogue" with Nicholas Ungar Furs. The store wasn't interested.
Rossell said the people gathering outside of Ungar Furs are an off-shoot of rallies at Schumacher's.
Fox agrees that his group was born from that experience. When those demonstrations ended with the shuttering of Schumacher's, Fox said the natural question for many activists was, "What next?"
(”No one has come up to me and said this a problem,” Schmautz said, noting that the Schumachers’ reaction to demonstrators outside their store may have led to much of the tension.)
Yes, how dare they resist the group that’s trying to take away their method of making a living! Didn’t the Schumachers know that they lived in a fascist liberal state?
Fur from Ungar? Is that anything like "Cheese Fumunga?"
Let me know when they try to shut down a Harley shop. After all, they also sell leather jackets, vests and pants.
Jack
The fur industry is dead.
This conservative wears non-leather shoes, belts, and enjoys a vegan diet.
Conservative and compassionate CAN co-exist.
Rock on with your bad self. I eat meat and wear leather. Funny how that freedom of choice thing works, isn’t it?
Really? I will be impressed with your prescience...
This conservative wears non-leather shoes, belts, and enjoys a vegan diet.
I will be impressed with your longevity...
Conservative and compassionate CAN co-exist.
Conservatism is compassion. T'is nice to reply in the here and now.
5.56mm
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