Think about how truly repulsive this is.
Starbucks believes that if you can be convinced that
this is actually a Native American event, you will
back off. Starbucks believes that its customers are
so superficial, and so intent on being politically
correct, that this utterly baseless propaganda will
make us go away.
The Native Americans at the Cheyenne rodeo are
there as entertainment and as vendors. In fact,
Animal People editor Merritt Clifton did some research
on the Cheyenne rodeo. He then sent an E-mail off
to Starbucks, including some historical media
accounts indicating that the rodeo certainly is NOT a
Native American cultural event. Here is an excerpt
of his E-mail:
"Far from being a "Native American cultural event,"
the Cheyenne Frontier Days appear to have included
authentic Native Americans only under political
pressure, only since later in 2000, and only in token
numbers. About 40 dancers and others participated
in 2005, a scarcely visible presence among the
hundreds of vendors and exhibitors."
Mr. Clifton then invited Starbucks to reconsider its
latest position. Don't hold your breath waiting for
responsibility from Starbucks. A "responsible
Starbucks" is merely a carefully crafted image that
has no more validity than a "humane rodeo."
Beyond this latest nonsense, Starbucks is staying
mum about the other rodeos we learned they are
sponsoring, including Miss Rodeo Washington,
The American Royal in Missouri, and the Belton Rodeo
in Texas.
The good news in this sleazy affair is that Starbucks
is feeling pressure from those of you who have
contacted them. That's why the company's story is
evolving from one lie to another. You can expect to
see more of this, and the lies will get even more
ridiculous.
On Tuesday night I took the Tiger video truck
outside a Starbucks in Aurora, Illinois. First the
manager came out and complained about the volume
of the sad music accompanying the video. Next, the
police arrived and demanded I turn it down. I did,
although it wasn't loud to begin with. After a while,
the cops claimed I was on a private road and that I
had to leave. We'll have to research that claim, as it
looked to me like the cops were simply sucking up to
someone who likely gives them free product.
If it is private road, there are lots of other Starbucks
to hit, but in any case I was very happy with what
the cop said. He said the video was disrupting
Starbucks' business! Thank you very much,
officer, those were the sweetest words I could hear.
The profiteers at Starbucks headquarters will sponsor
rodeos, but they don't want people in decent areas
to know what they are involved in. That's the key
folks--let everyone at every Starbucks know exactly
what the company is supporting.
So, it is important that you contact Starbucks and
tell the oh-so-perky phone people that you are not
impressed with their corporate line, and are even less
impressed with their stifling of the 1st Amendment.
But, it is even more important that you print out the
flier at our BuckStarbucks.com website,
make some
copies, and distribute them to customers going in
and out of your local Starbucks. This is what the
company fears the most, other good and caring
people finding out about the cruelty that the
company is sponsoring and promoting. This is the
key to making change.
We are pleased that our Buck Starbucks campaign
has been joined by some Starbucks employees, who
are appalled that the company they are working for
would support rodeo cruelty. So, please remember
to be polite and respectful when addressing your
local Starbucks staff—we want them to come along
on our fight! Once you have started leafleting at
you local Starbucks, please let us know so that we
can include the report in our future E-mail updates,
and in our newsletter.
