Schumacher gives up!

[1pump]

OK, I don't really give a rip about furs one way or the other. But the way a 111-year-old Portland company was dissed by the city is just plain wrong. They let a small, vocal minority chase a venerable retailer out of downtown by allowing the protesters to engage in behavior that would get the rest of us arrested. The animal rights crowd is certainly entitled to their opinion, but shouting obscenities and spitting on people is crossing the line- even if it is free speech. And the city condoned this behavior by their inaction.
I seem to remember this same city battling Iraq war protestors. And threatening to cite people who honked their horns in support of striking longshoremen. And nobody did anything when Rose Garden security ejected people for waving "Fire Whitsitt" signs.
If Schumacher's was a head shop or a NAMBLA headquarters, maybe I'd be more sympathetic to people who interfere with a legitimate business. But this is a bad precedent. The protestors valued their own rights and opinions above everyone else's and won.

[Cool Texan]

Originally Posted by 1pump

If Schumacher's was a head shop or a NAMBLA headquarters, maybe I'd be more sympathetic to people who interfere with a legitimate business.

Sort of contradicts the rest of your thread, doesn't it??

[Artwo]

I agree with you 100%. With all of the crying the city council is doing about businesses leaving the downtown area they sure didn't put any pressure on the mayor and/or the police to interveen. And then they wonder why legitimate law abiding businesses decide to leave. I say, good for Schmacher......................give them the one finger salute and move on.

[FrogPond]

I do not agree with the people that ran Schumacher out of town...but I have always gotten a chuckle out of the term "vocal minority". If the "silent majority" would attend all of the city council meetings, special hearings, committee meetings, ward meetings, etc. Maybe the policies, projects, and laws of the community would represent the whole community.

Remember that in the environment of those meetings the "vocal" get their way. GET INVOLVED!!!

[johndeeregreen]

I agree with one pump and frogpond.

[roadsend]

Originally Posted by Cool Texan

Sort of contradicts the rest of your thread, doesn't it??

I don't see where it contradicts 1pumps thread.
IMO at least, head shops and NAMBLA advocate, tacitly or overtly, activities which are illegal. Furs are legal.
We are talking oranges and apples.

[Boatdog]

the "vocal" get their way.

The "squeaky wheel get's the grease".

[lucky2]

One more nail in the coffin of downtown PDX. Soon it will be nothing but panhandlers

[Hog King]

It's very sad that a 112 year old Portland company, who is also the oldest furrier in the US, has to move because the cops & city officials won't do their job. Bunch of kool-aid drinkers, in my opinion.

I heard Gegg Schumacher on the radio the other day. He said that the remaining stock would go at 50% of sticker price.

I'm gettin' my fanny down town for a good deal on a leather coat!

Spread the word. Let's have an ifsh shoping spree!

Hey....the winter ale fest is going on this weekend also!

[1pump]

As far as my "vocal minority" comment, I'm guess I'm just jealous. I don't have the spare time it takes to spend hours, days, weeks and months forcing a store I don't like to close down or relocate. On the other hand, I do admire their commitment to their cause. But there's a fine line between commitment and extremism.

I can see why CT thinks I was was being contradictory. If I defend one legitimate business, I should defend them all, right?
Nope.
I'm not the ACLU. I can pick and choose- just like the Schumacher protestors. If they don't like fur, one has to assume they don't like animal products of any kind, since it usually involves slaughtering the animal. So how come they're not out in front of Safeway? They sell meat. How 'bout Nordstrom's? They sell leather shoes and clothing.
They could be like the rest of us working stiffs- vote with your wallet. Don't like fur? Don't buy one. Write your useless congressman/woman. Buy a full-page ad in your local paper. Why harass and assault people for buying an expensive garment you don't like? I don't really care for lederhosen, but I'm not going to kick the crap out the accordion player at Gustav's.

[Cool Texan]

1pump....glad you see where I was coming from, and that I was not picking on you. I was just struck with the irony of the statements.

[johndeeregreen]

I also heard Schumacher on the radio the other day and a guy can get a deal and look at the morans that ran him out.

[The Chub]

What's wrong with a Head Shop?

I'm not going to touch the NAMBLA thing

[MattPark]

Tomorrow I think I'll go crabbing. I'll enjoy my heated leather seats on the way there, enjoy the comfort of my leather boots, and use mink carcasses for bait. I'd better stop by for a burger or 2 on the way back as well.

[tnj8222]

i just dont see what gives them the right to harass them for selling a legal product. if somebody spit on me for doing the job i love and am very good at, i would be going to jail afterwords might not be the best thing but im a hot head and this would really p me off.. sorry to those of you agree with protesting something like this but it is just wrong, they are the sad ones. the police just sat back and let them? bet he likes where his taxdollars are going i would sue the state if i was him.. its costing him alot of money

[jokester]

Protesting is one thing...

What these people were doing is something totally different, and they should have been arrested.

Just my

-jokester

[jvp]

we do have the right of free speak and assembly but if that idiot put his finger in my face i think i would find a bunch of brawling pacifists, which i believe is their true colors. they are not out there for a cause, just anarchists wait for the bush family to return. welcome to little beruit

[Seefood Man]

I bet if it was a group protesting the unfair treatment of coffee beans in front of a Starbucks the "city" would have taken real good care of them. GREAT WAY TO TURN YOUR BACKS ON THE BUSINESS,PORTLAND!

[ampersat]

Happy Holidays, folks!