New York, NY
– October 3, 2016 –
The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos is hosting a press briefing and rally on the steps of New York City Hall and two silent vigils/protests in Brooklyn
in response to the inhumane “swinging” and slaughtering of chickens in Kaporos rituals the week before Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement,
which falls on October 12th this year. The event schedule is as follows:
Press Briefing & Rally times:
Wednesday, October 5th: 1 pm to 2 pm, steps of New York City Hall
Protest dates / times:
Sunday, October 9th: 6 pm to 8 pm and Monday, October 10th: 6 pm to 8 pm
Protest site is in Crown Heights, Brooklyn:
792 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213
(Corner of Kingston Ave)
During Kaporos, some Jewish practitioners in New York, as well as locations in other large cities, wave chickens, held by their legs or wings pinned
backward, around their heads while chanting verses about transferring their sins and punishment symbolically to the bird. See Brooklyn Kaporos video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9QNYaDIiJA.
“
In 2010, I founded the Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos, a project of United Poultry Concerns (UPC), after witnessing years of Kaporos horrors,”
said Karen Davis, PhD, who also founded UPC. She added, “We know it is difficult to attend a demonstration where animals are suffering and dying in
front of us, but as hard as it is for us, it is infinitely harder for the chickens. We must be there for them and show them and everyone else that we care
for them and are fighting for them.” The Alliance includes support from Animal Cruelty Exposure Fund, Long Island Orchestrating for Nature, New York
Farm Animal Save, The Animals’ Battalion, GooseWatch NYC and Their Turn.
Davis pointed out that many laws are being violated at the Kaporos sites. “Some of the laws that are blatantly not enforced include animal nuisance
laws which prohibit sellers of live poultry from leaving chicken blood, feces and feathers on the sidewalk and street,” she said. Davis added that it
is illegal to pile up dead animals on the street prior to their disposal. Last year, witnesses reported seeing dead chickens on the public streets, as well
as an uncovered dumpster containing chickens. “Because city and state agencies have dismissed our concerns, our legal counsel has asked the CDC to
intervene (Marino Justice Letter to the CDC Regarding Kaporos as a Health Risk in NYC).”
Davis said, “The chickens need mercy from us. We ask Kaporos observers to show mercy and use money instead of chickens. As more and more animal
rights activists get involved, and with legal challenges in the works, many Orthodox rabbis are publicly condemning Kaporos on grounds of animal cruelty
and sacrilege.” To learn more about the Alliance, please go to www.endchickensaskaporos.com. Visit www.upc-online.org, Facebook and twitter @upcnews and @kindkaporos
Press contact:
Susan Tellem, APR, RN. BSN; 310-313-3444 x1; susan@tellemgrodypr.com
The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos is a project of
United Poultry Concerns.
Formed in New York City in June 2010, the Alliance is an association of groups and individuals who seek to
replace the use of chickens in Kaporos ceremonies with money or other non-animal symbols of atonement.
The Alliance does not oppose Kaporos per se, only the cruel and unnecessary use of chickens in the ceremony.
