For Immediate Release:
March 26, 2013
Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382
Chicago -- PETA has just sent a letter to U.S. Marshal Edwin D. Sloane about Jesse Jackson Jr.'s fur coats, which Jackson admitted were purchased illegally with campaign funds and which will reportedly be seized after his trial on June 28. In the letter, PETA asks that Sloane make a point about "need vs. greed"—and give back to the Illinois community—by donating Jackson's fur coats to the homeless, rather than auctioning them.
PETA runs "fur kitchens" throughout the U.S. for the homeless, who can't afford to buy a winter coat and can't be choosy when it comes to their clothing. These are donated by former fur-wearers who had a change of heart after learning how animals are beaten, electrocuted, and skinned alive for their fur. Donated coats are subtly marked to prevent resale.
PETA's letter to the U.S. marshal appears below.
Edwin D. Sloane
United States Marshal
Dear Marshal Sloane,
Greetings from PETA. After reading about how the fur coats that Jesse Jackson bought illegally with campaign funds will become the responsibility of the U.S. Marshal, I'm writing to ask that you please donate them to the homeless instead of putting them up for auction.
We hope you'll recognize that the true victims are the animals who are beaten, electrocuted, and even skinned alive by the fur industry. By donating the coats to the homeless, you'd be able to highlight the difference between need and greed while giving back to the community in the state of Illinois.
Although we can't give the animals their lives back, these coats can help the destitute. I look forward to hearing that you will make this compassionate donation. Thank you for your consideration.
Best regards,
Dan Mathews
Senior Vice President
PETA