November
1997
The
Death of the Fur Industry?
The Satya Interview with
J.P. Goodwin |
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J. P. Goodwin is founder of the Coalition to Abolish
the Fur Trade (CAFT), which has staged numerous acts of protest and
civil disobedience around the country, and may be the most active and
committed group working on the issue of fur today. As the fur-wearing,
and fur-protesting, begins for another winter, Satya asked
him about the future of the industry and protests against it.
Q: How did you get involved in the movement?
A: About eight years ago I went to see
a band play called Dead Silence and they had a seven-inch record that
had a 32-page booklet about animal rights in it which contained all
sorts of information. I bought that record and took all the literature
on the table and it sparked my interest. I dove deeper and deeper into
it and I learned more about what happened to animals behind the scenes.
Q: What was your first exposure to the fur
issue?
A: The first group I contacted was Trans-Species
Unlimited. They're no longer around, but they were powerful organizers
for the anti-fur movement. One of the first things I got was a big Fur
Free Friday packet sent to me in the mail. That sparked my interest
in the fur trade, and the stopping of killing of fur animals. They also
had a lot of in-depth literature on trapping and extensive point-counterpoint
for you to refute a lot of the pro-trap arguments. That really helped
direct me toward fighting the fur trade.
Q: Are you involved in other issues?
A: As an activist, I am a spokesperson
for other animal issues. I am a strict vegan. But my focus is on the
fur trade because I feel it's important that we try and take them [the
fur industry] out and not let them get back up on their feet. If we
have a chance to stop the killing of fur animals, it would create a
lot of momentum for the animal rights movement.
Q: You feel that fur is the best issue to
work on because the industry's the weakest?
A: That's right. I think that you can
also build a lot of support for animal rights through the fur issue.
There are a lot of people opposed to fur, and a lot are becoming involved
in animal rights groups because of the fur issue. Those people will
then have their eyes opened to other animal rights issues.
Q: Is fur back?
A: I think that the last couple of years
are still starting to take effect. There's been a lot more fur on the
streets. That's because after an initial boomerang effect in the late
80s and early 90s, things really died down. There was a lot less activism
because animal rights groups were making premature claims of victory.
Now grassroots organizations are really starting to put the pressure
back on the fur industry again to hopefully reverse that trend. The
fur industry is also buying off many fashion designers. They're sending
scores of young fashion designers on all-expenses paid trips to Denmark
to learn how to work with furs. They're giving them contracts with manufacturers.
They're getting kids into fashion designing, which is like a dream for
a lot of them, and they use that to increase the fashion coverage in
magazines like Vogue, Elle and W. That also contributes to the increase
in furs that you have seen in the last few years. Because fashion magazines
fall for that trick hook, line and sinker.
Q: What is the state of the anti-fur movement
now?
A: I think the movement is better off
than it was two years ago because there is a lot more activity going
on in local communities. The animal rights movement was probably at
its weakest when activity was coming out of one centralized area, generally
a couple of organizations in the DC area. People relied on these groups
to get things done. Activists needed to get out there and do things
themselves in their communities. Power comes from the grassroots level,
from having a strong, good core group of people across the country.
The movement is on the up and up; we're experiencing growing pains,
but these can be rectified.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested
in getting involved in civil disobedience (CD)?
A: To follow their conscience and do
what they feel is right. I would tell them that if they are arrested,
not to accept deals such as probation or fines because we do not want
activists relegated to the sidelines. We want activists up at the front.
I'd also tell them to use the courts. Instead of trying to get things
dismissed, use the courts to make a big media issue. The system wastes
tax dollars to prosecute non-violent animal rights activists while people
that break minks' necks and raise foxes walk free. CD is important to
re-energize the grassroots animal rights movement. In fact, I think
it's been vital and increasingly effective. It helped Macy's West close
their fur salon, and it may very well help Macy's East close theirs.
I would just say: go out there and do what you feel is right.
Q: Is the goal to avoid arrest or be arrested
for the sake of publicity?
A: That depends on the situation. In
a lot of instances it's very beneficial to go to jail. It sends a very
powerful message showing a strong resolve. It shows that this is a serious
social movement that has a lot of parallels to other movements that
have used CD. I think it can help when people are willing to lay their
bodies on the line and go to jail.
Q: There have been a number of people on hunger
and thirst strikes in jail. Do you think that upping the ante to such
an extent is effective?
A: The thirst strikes I'm really not
that hot on -- because that gives the support team on the outside a
maximum of four or five days to get the goal achieved. That's not enough
time. Hunger strikes on the other hand are very effective. Thirst strikes
are also effective but they are very dangerous. Hunger strikes are very
effective in generating support and attention. They help activists get
out of jail after CD actions. In Atlanta, 65 of us were arrested during
World Lab Animal Liberation Week. We went on hunger strike because we
refused to pay bail. Civil rights leader Jose Williams saw it on the
news and held a press conference at the jail. We were released three
days later, most of us on our own recognizance. It was the top news
story for that entire weekend.
Q: What other strategies can one use before
arrest or hunger strike?
A: It's just a matter of planning. You
can pick protest targets that are strategic such as Macy's -- a department
store which can conceivably get rid of fur without going out of business
and it would be pretty easy for them to do so. You can pick which type
of CD you want to do: whether you want to lock down and block the front
doors or go inside and chant really loudly, sit down inside the fur
department and cause a disruption in business. You've got to make sure
that activists who are willing to risk arrest are mentally prepared
to do so and don't freak out in jail, bail out immediately and sell
you down the river. Plan exactly what you want to do and make sure you
have the right people.
Q: What is the future of CD in the animal
advocacy movement?
A: That's a very good question because
two of our key organizers in the California area are being charged with
felony/conspiracy charges right now because they allegedly organized
a protest where people happened to get arrested. I was at that protest
and, yes, activists did lay down and block the driveway because they
were retaliating in a non-violent manner to police clubbing of activists
at the beginning of the protest. If they are convicted of these charges,
then we might see things moving into a different era. That would be
a very bad sign, not only for the state of civil liberties in the U.S.
but for the fact that history has proven that when all non-violent methods
of protest and resistance are cut off, there are always people who turn
to violent means. It is a little difficult to answer that question right
now. It depends on what happens with these conspiracy changes. The two
activists are scheduled to appear in court sometime in November.
Q: What is your general feeling about authority?
A: Good question. In this country today
we have a lot of people in authority who are abusing their power. This
is especially true with police who overreact and gas animal rights activists
at demos. I believe we should always question that authority, especially
when it gets out of hand.
For more information on CAFT in this area, contact:
CAFT-NYC, PO Box 130152, New York, NY 10013 or 201-930-9026. To join
CAFT, get in touch with J.P. Goodwin, or get new information on the
fur trade, contact CAFT: PO Box 822411, Dallas, TX 75382. E-mail: MINKLIB@aol.com.
Tel: 214-503-1419.
