Protesters against the fur trade have been making quite a scene recently.
The group, known as CAFT (The Campaign Against Fur Trapping), has been actively pushing for the end of the fur industry. Over the last few days, they rallied in front of the homes of Vogue editors in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, yelling accusations like “murderer” through megaphones.
They went a step further, writing the names and social media accounts of the editors on sidewalks using chalk. They even invited locals to “become penpals with the killer” and left messages urging them to “leave our city.”
A source close to one targeted editor described the situation as “really scary,” expressing that protests like these feel more invasive than past actions, especially as these are family homes.
Last Thursday, a CAFT volunteer named Andrew, who declined to share his last name, gathered about 15 people outside one editor’s residence. He claimed that Vogue was “only responsible for reviving the fur industry,” arguing that while many brands have moved away from selling fur, Vogue still supports it.
Over the weekend, a similar protest occurred at another Vogue editor’s waterfront apartment in Williamsburg. Protesters wrote the editor’s name and apartment number on the sidewalk as a few police officers observed.
Reports indicated that at least one protester entered the building to leave a flyer under resident doors.
CAFT co-founder Tyler Lang noted that their group aims to take a more aggressive approach than other organizations like PETA. He stated, “a small group like us is willing to cross boundaries.”
The group has been vocal in demanding that media companies, including Conde Nast, refrain from using or promoting fur in any format.
While fur fashion has seen a decline, it made a comeback last winter, gaining acceptance from various celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Despite a shift in coverage from other fashion magazines like Elle, Vogue continues to feature fur designs.
Designer Marc Jacobs criticized CAFT last June, calling their tactics “bullying” after they targeted the homes of numerous fashion professionals. Jacobs emphasized that his brand hasn’t used fur since 2018.
Lang, who in the past was involved in liberating minks from a farm in Illinois, remarked, “We won’t go away,” expressing solidarity with his concerned neighbors.
