Canada Goose Tries to Block Activists, High Court Refuses
Great news for coyotes and geese: Canada Goose tried to restrict protesters at its London store, but the High Court refused the company’s application for summary judgment.
From its opening in 2017, Canada Goose’s European flagship store in London has been a focus of demonstrations.
In December 2017, in an attempt to quash the right of activists – including PETA’s – to protest outside the Regent Street premises, the company obtained an interim injunction against “persons unknown”, defined as anyone protesting against the sale of clothing containing animal-derived materials, such as fur and feathers. The injunction restricted the number of protesters outside the store to 12. In early 2019, the company sought summary judgment to make the interim injunction a final order.
However, now, in a major blow to Canada Goose, the High Court has refused the company’s application for summary judgment and, pending an appeal, discharged the existing interim injunction.
The court found that an individual’s right to protest is a deeply embedded legal right, and the judge refused to restrict it when the court could not be satisfied that the protesters had committed a civil wrong.
The judge considered that the definition of “persons unknown” in this case did not capture a homogeneous class of persons and, importantly, pointed out that there was nothing in the definition of “protester” which assumes wrongdoing. Therefore, “the restrictions placed on demonstrations in the injunction are neither necessary nor proportionate”.
Why Fur and Down Suck
Coyotes trapped for Canada Goose’s fur trim can legally suffer with a broken leg, lacerations, or haemorrhages for up to 72 hours before trappers return – and this practice is consistent with the company’s trapping standards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiiwMvDp9PE
Trapped coyote mothers desperate to get back to their starving pups have tried to chew off their own legs to escape, and many trapped animals succumb to the elements, blood loss, infection, or attacks by predators before trappers return to kill them.
Ducks and geese used for down are shipped in all weather extremes to abattoirs, where their throats are cut and their bodies dunked into defeathering tanks.
What You Can Do
You may have already seen someone wearing a Canada Goose jacket this season. Many people don’t realise that animals are abused for the brand’s fur trim and down-feather fillers, so please speak up for the coyotes and birds who are suffering – and together, we’ll make sure everyone learns about this cruelty:
