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WOW! congratulation to them Steve. Maria ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 3:30 PM Subject: June 24th Singer Protest in Philadelphia (fwd) > On Monday, June 24, Peter Singer made an appearance at a > restaurant in Philadelphia. His host was a well-known "progressive" > in Philadelphia. Disability activists in the area let us know that > they planned a protest and we sent a flyer for the planned protest. > I thought the emerging US response to Singer from disability > activists might be of interest to people on this list. > Below is a message from Philly activist Erik von Schmetterling, > describing the protest: > > -----Forwarded Message-------------- > > Hi Steven: > > I just wanted you to know that twenty-five Philly ADAPT members, > who are also a part of Not Dead Yet, showed up to "greet" > Peter Singer on Monday evening. He was at the White Dog Cafe, > as you know. This was to be a dinner reception, followed by an > address from him at a near-by University of Penn lecture hall. > We had both front and back entrances to the cafe covered; > everyone who entered, as well as, those just passing by, were > leafletted. We used your flyers that you sent, along with two > others of our own and passed out all of them. > > We spoke with the restaurant's owner, Judy Wicks, who is a > very progressive type, known well in Philly for her philanthropy > and support of activism, in general. She responded that she > didn't invite Singer because of the views for which we were > protesting, but for his animal rights position. Jimmi Shrode > explained to her that one can't begin to really understand > ANIMAL rights until one totally supports the rights of their > OWN species, i.e. Human Rights! Erik told her that you > can't section out what people say, you have to take the > person in their totality -- for example, Hermann Goering > (a noted Nazi) supported the German Wildlife Fund, yet history > remembers him in a very negative way because he not only > supported the Nazis, he benefitted from their "work" and was > actively involved in advancing the Holocaust! > > Judy Wicks agreed to host us soon to showcase the Disability > Rights struggle and our issues. Contact info was exchanged > and we will set this up in the near future. We thought this was > an important win because it would give us good exposure to > other activists and to potential donors to support our work. > > Judy's daughter who is a young activist herself became so > inflamed with Singer that she refused to sit with him, as was > planned, and stayed outside with us. We chanted and had > our ADAPT clappers, making lots of noise. The University > of Pennsylvania police tried to harrass us, but we didn't relent > or cave in to their intimidation -- we've been harrassed before > by the best of 'em, including Federal Marshalls, FBI, State > Troopers, etc., etc. The weather was hot and humid, complete > with a summer thunderstorm and drenching downpour. Still, > we remained, and chanted, holding our now soggy signs high. > We arrived on the spot at 5:00 p.m. and stayed until after > 9:00 p.m. It was quite a statement to our determination and > presence of purpose. > > We not only "greeted" Singer but were still there when he left. > He gave us one of those "nervous" smiles -- it was quite obvious > that he was not pleased. That made our night! > > Though we chose not to be outrite confrontational (blocking doors, > etc.), our presence was a very powerful statement unto itself. > A few of the "progressives" were so totally unnerved by so many > cripples around and that they had to walk "through" us! We did > manage to talk with lots of people, though, and shamed many > of the so-called "activists" who came out in attendance; because > of us, some of them changed their dinner plans and turned away. > Those folks were applauded. > > Just thought you'd like to know the outcome of our "venture." Take > care and WE'RE NOT DEAD YET! We are the Resistance! As the > Free French said, so many years ago, "VIVA LA RESISTANCE!" > > Erik von Schmetterling, > ADAPT Organizer > > ________________End of message______________________ > > Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List > are now located at: > > www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html > > You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page. > > > ________________End of message______________________ Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List are now located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.