As the winter trends became more noticeable, animal rights advocates began to picket and draw media attention once again. According to this article, about 20% of fur purchasers are under the age of 34. Fur has become a stylish trend with celebrity's sporting the new look. We don't hear much about animal rights anymore, but there is still an active organization known as the COK's (Compassion over Killing) which is an animal rights civil disobedience group. This group pickets many fur retailers, their enemy in the fight against fur. These activist see the fur trade as nothing less than wholesale, commercialized murder, and will do almost anything to get their point across.
Animal liberation argues that animals have worth and deserve to exist on their own terms, not just as a means to humans. COK's focus on direct-action protest and demonstrations is just one way that the animal rights movement has tried to end fur trade. Several stars have helped this group including Paul McCartney, Rikki Lake, and Naomi Campbell. Lobbying efforts by animal advocacy groups have resulted in many restrictions in numerous states and an end to federal fur industries. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has persuaded several fashion designers to stop using fur in their clothing lines. .
Each side of the argument over fur has an entirely different way of bringing attention to this issue. Animal rights groups are known to bluntly describe fur as "dead animal parts" and emphasize that animals are killed to produce a fur garment. The COK refers to the fur industry in criminal terms. They believe that fur is directly equal to murder and those involved in the industry are considered killers. On the other hand, industry groups like the Fur Information Council of America (FICA) describes fur garments as objects and clothing. .
Animal rights activist groups are busy trying to change the social rules that have been in this country for a long time.
