The Issue: Whether protests against the New York City horse-carriage industry are getting out of hand.
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There is no excuse for remarks made by the carriage driver, but, like Nicole Gelinas, I have witnessed how the protesters provoke confrontation (“Fight Protester Cruelty,” PostOpinion, July 25).
They arm themselves with video cameras with the goal of baiting the drivers.
Their taunts have brought the children of tourists to tears as they hurl insults at the parents who choose to go for a carriage ride.
The Teamsters Union advocates to protect our members’ livelihoods and families, and we advocate for our horses.
Legislation passed by the City Council overwhelmingly (and with our participation) mandates increased veterinarian exams, five weeks of vacation in pasture per year and increased stall sizes.
Demos P. Demopoulos
Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters
Local Union 553, IBT
Manhattan
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There are many factions involved, and though our methods may vary, our goals are the same — freeing horses from this dangerous life of hardship, “working” in all extremes of weather, ingesting poisonous exhaust fumes, hazardous traffic conditions and an endless litany of horrors.
The ASPCA wishes this “industry” would disappear.
Gelinas should remove her rose-colored glasses before she jumps on anyone’s bandwagon and passes judgment, unless the horses’ plight is of no consequence to her.
David Weiss
Brooklyn