World

Anti-Seal Hunt Protesters Arrested at Harper's Washington Visit

by Amy Judd | September 16, 2009 at 12:26 pm

260 views | 42 Recommendations | 1 comment

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has visited President Obama in Washington today, but three anti-seal hunt protesters were arrested outside the Canadian embassy there for dressing as bloody seals and blocking traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue. The three were members of PETA, and were charged with disordely conduct, unlawful assembly and failure to obey.

About 15 other activists nearby held signs asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "stop the seal slaughter." The group says harp seals are targeted in Canada and wants to send Harper a message as he visits President Barack Obama.

According to some members of the Canadian press, three anti-seal hunt protesters were also arrested in the gallery of question time with the two Presidents. They snuck in dressed as nuns and interrupted proceedings by yelling 'ban the seal slaughter'.

When they did so, Conservative MP Steven Blaney held up a seal-skin binder to show his support for the hunt and then Newfoundland Liberal Gerry Byrne went over to give him a hug.

Unfortunately there is no footage of the protest inside because it was closed to the media.