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Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

Schumacher Furs and the Relentless Portland Protesters
Another Attempt by Buisiness to Divert Attention Away from Animal Cruelty

"I define them as 'animal rights terrorists.' There's actual terrorist activity going on in front of our store."
Greg Schumacher, Schumacher Furs and Outerwear

"We're law abiding citizens. In this day and age we know what terrorism is and clearly we are exercising our First Amendment rights. The real terror that's being caused here is the terror these animals go through."
Matt Rossell, In Defense of Animals

Schumacher Furs and Outerwear has sold furs in downtown Portland for 111 years, until its doors closed in December 2006. Protesters had been peacefully picketing in front of Schumacher's every Saturday for just over a year trying to expose the cruel nature of the fur industry and raise Portland's consciousness. The protesters used legal means of dissent and demonstration including holding signs, passing out literature, talking to passersby, and showing a video about how animals are used in the fur trade. This was their successful attempt at a public outreach campaign that brings transparency to the solid walls of the fur industry. Fur is more than the Schumachers attempt to reveal in their ads of scantily clad women with pursed lips and high heels and a slogan that appeals to vanity, reading, "Want more sex? Get more sexy." The Schumachers want to sell. Torture, exploitation, and death are their business. However, they knew that if the public was aware of this their profits would suffer in the name of compassion. This is why they refused to concede to the protestors' ultimatum that they place informative tags on their merchandise that reveal to their customers the cruelty in each coat.

Instead, the Schumachers took matters into their own hands by posting antiprotestor signs that labeled activists as whores and insisted that the same tortures that are inflicted on animals in the fur industry should be inflicted on the protestors. And although the Schumachers refused mediation from the city, they later complained that the city failed to address the protests. They even took the city to federal court, claiming that the city should have protected business profits by stopping the protests. They made claims against PETA, In Defense of Animals, and the Animal Liberation Front for $2 million each. They were driven out of business and they wanted animal rights activists who exposed the truths to pay. However, on June 17, 2007, Federal Judge Michael Mosman ruled in favor of the protestors, the lawsuit against them was thrown out, and the Schumachers were forced to pay the protestors' attorney fees.
Matt Rossell, a protest organizer with In Defense of Animals, reported to Channel 2 news that the campaign wanted the Schumachers "to put a label on the fur that tells exactly how the animals lived and died. If the furs were labeled and consumers could make a choice with all of the information, I think the protest would end." The city of Portland made attempts to stop the protests by offering to facilitate mediation between the Schumachers and the protesters. "Unfortunately, they repeatedly declined our help," said Mayor Tom Potter.
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