2 Fur-Sales Protesters Arrested

SHERMAN OAKS — Two animal rights protesters who attached themselves with handcuffs and bicycle locks to a railing outside a Macy’s were arrested Sunday.

Joy Randall, 16, and Darcy McMullen, 19, were among a dozen people protesting the sale of fur clothing at the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square department store.

Firefighters used a chain saw and other tools to cut them loose. Randall and McMullen were arrested for trespassing.

Another activist, Steve Levy, 28, of North Hollywood, was given a citation for blocking traffic after he walked into the middle of Riverside Drive and sat there for several minutes.

Macy’s officials had no comment on the protest.

The demonstration began at about 1 p.m. with members of the Orange County-based Animal Rights Direct Action Coalition chanting “Fur is torture, fur is death” and “Macy’s tortures animals” to shoppers entering the store.

Shoppers were mostly unfazed, except for a few who paused briefly to see what the commotion was about.

“That’s their problem,” said Sandra Simms, continuing into the mall. “I can’t afford furs, anyway.”

Some of the protesters said they had been arrested several times for their actions against fur retailers. Randall and McMullen were taken to the LAPD’s Van Nuys station for booking, police said.