-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Gap vandalized for alleged sweatshops Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 09:30:45 -0500
http://news.excite.com/news/uw/000208/politics-57
Gap vandalized for alleged sweatshops
Updated 12:00 PM ET February 8, 2000
By Joe Potente The Daily Cardinal U. Wisconsin
(U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. -- Unrest regarding the subject of sweatshop labor continued on and around the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus Sunday as unknown protesters affixed fliers to the windows of The Gap, 341 State St., charging exploitation of child labor overseas.
The fliers were glued to the windows with a substance that made them quite difficult to remove. No person or organization's name was included on the fliers, and a suspect has yet to be identified, according to a Madison Police Department report.
According to the report, prior to this incident, other occurrences have occurred at the clothing store over the past week. These include the smashing of a window, defacing of the wood that covered the broken window and public urination in the doorway.
"Direct action gets the goods. Smash The Gap," was written on a plywood window cover with a permanent marker.
The manager of the store also told Madison Police that customers have recently been harassed outside on State Street.
Local Gap management refused to comment about the matter.
Brendan O'Sullivan, a member of the Alliance for Democracy, said although she is certain no student organizations such as the Madison Anti-Sweatshop Coalition were responsible for the vandalism, she empathizes with the protestors.
"I don't have any problem with that form of protest," O'Sullivan said. "It's valuable to have as many ways of going about it as possible."
O'Sullivan said she believes the damage to The Gap was done out of genuine protest, despite the lack of identification on the fliers.
"I would understand why they don't want to identify themselves," O'Sullivan said. "I do think it's genuine."
Critics have attacked The Gap, especially since the World Trade Organization2000 conference in Seattle last December, which instigated protests from numerous groups combat the use of sweatshop labor in foreign counties by American corporations.
The Gap has been accused of using suppliers with substandard labor practices for the production of its clothing, although the corporation, which also controls the Old Navy and Banana Republic brands, denies the charges.
"Many people are working hard to stop garment-industry sweatshops," said an Internet statement from The Gap Inc. "We do business with factories in more than 50 countries, and we devote extensive time and energy to making sure they produce our clothing under safe and humane working conditions."
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