Subject: [againstslaughter] DISGUSTED by the HCI @ the
Illinois Horse Fair
Ask Gail and anyone else who attended the fair (which was not
'fair' at all) and they will tell you all about the hypocrisy and horrible way
we, the volunteers, and their employees were treated today.
First of all, we all met at the HAHS booth at 9am to collect our pins to pass
out (which said "I Oppose Horse Slaughter"), information to give out,
and petitions to have signed. Not even an hour after we had split up to recruit
support on the street, Bob, the HCI security guy
caught us...it was almost like they knew we were coming and were waiting to
pounce on us. He told us we weren't allowed to pass out that
information/petition/pins on their property. Gail asked him why and he said it
was the rules. Thank God Gail was there, she asked him
who he was, and who was in charge that we could talk to. He said I don't know,
the gentleman in charge is up at the track somewhere. I guess he couldn't figure
out that Gail was asking who ON THE GROUNDS we could speak to to find out
exactly what we were entitled to. After a few rounds (and with Gail with the
upper hand) Bob called the rent-a-cops to help him figure out what to do with
us. (took them over 15 minutes to devise a plan, and they wouldn't even let Gail
go to the bathroom!!) First Bob told us we had to leave, but we countered that
we had bought tickets. He said we could stay but he'd have to confiscate our
items and bags and bring them back down to the booth we were at. Then we'd have
to go out to the "designated protest area" if we wished to have
petitions signed. I wondered how we were supposed to do that since the area was
Gate 2 on the corner of Sangamon and Peoria St (?). The best yet: we weren't
even allowed to TALK to ANYONE about the issue! I can't see that being on any
rule
book!!!! I asked him where we could find a copy of the rules...he didn't know. I
asked him who we could contact and where, and he didn't know. He told us to
check out the HCI website....like we carry computers in our purses!!!! He didn't
know the url either. So how does he know what we are or aren't able to do? We
were categorized as "protestors", but not one word on our paraphernalia
had the HCI on it in any form. So, we were escorted downstairs to the stock
pavilion and were watched like hawks while we unloaded our "ammo" and
were told if we were seen talking to anyone or handing out flyers or petitions
or pins that we would be "removed" if we did it anywhere other than
the designated protest area. I told him we should be entitled to talk to other
horsewomen & men if they approached us. We agreed on this. So three of us
left to go find gate two....of course, it was as far away from the grounds as
you could get, we had to stand outside the grounds, and there were no people to
be seen. Luckily we had picket signs and were able to get a few honks and thumbs
up from the passing IHF traffic.
It gets even better....we found someone dressed up in a horse suit walking
around the grounds (an HCI volunteer I would guess) and got him to wear a
pin....but he, like many of the volunteers who had VOLUNTARILY picked up the
pins from the booths we deposited them at to be handed out, were told to
"take it off or leave!" so they had to remove their pins....!!!!
Gail's quote of the day "I'm sorry, I didn't know we were in Russia!"
I guess when you're with the HCI you aren't allowed to have an
opinion...scary...almost cultish!!!!
On the bright side, we couldn't keep the pins in stock! Gail really knows how to
work with adversity, and found venders who support our cause and who were
willing to hand out pins and petitions at their booths for us, as well as the
HAHS who were "pin and petition central" A lot of children and young
girls wore our pins, a lot of parents didn't like it. Gail found a few girls in
one of the sale barns and brought them some pins because they wanted to hand
them out...their parents waited until they left and gave them back....they were
pro-slaughter...wonder how they'll be able to explain that to their kids. I met
and made many friends and enjoyed 'friendly' arguments with opposers or other
rescue facilities (like HARPS) who are pro-slaughter. Yes, we did get some
comments, thumbs down, and dirty looks, but they were very few. There are a lot
more people out there opposing horse slaughter than you'd think. Bob even took 2
pins after arguing the issue with Gail. Don't know if he'll wear them or use
them, but he very quietly asked for one and put them in his pocket. I am not
sure the people volunteering for the HCI even know their stance.
But, we'd be lost without Gail. She was amazing today handling all situations
with poise and respect but wasn't going down easily. She truly is a warrior for
our horses and without her, we would have been lost today. I'm sure she'll have
some updates for you all. Sorry for the long post but I'm just so angry with the
way we were treated. The HCI does not represent horsewomen/men everywhere, they
only represent their pocketbooks. Last time I checked, you and I were part of
the so-called 'industry' as well. I guess we don't matter
Amanda Karkula
University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana