After a six month break due to the pandemic, horse carriages returned to Central Park on Saturday, October 3, and were met with a crowd of protestors led by NYCLASS and PETA.
The protest focused on both accusations of animal abuse and a lack of mask-wearing among carriage drivers.
Large NYCLASS + @peta protest today as law-breaking, cruel carriage drivers bring horses back to Midtown. NY’ers don’t want animal abuse in their City! Drivers show no regard for public safety or horse welfare. Shut them down! @NYCMayor @NYCCouncil @JustinBrannan @MarkLevineNYC pic.twitter.com/27dMCfUkPU
— NYCLASS (@nyclass) October 3, 2020
While the horse carriage industry has many active opponents in NYC, Frank McCann of the Transport Workers Union Local 100 said in a statement to CBS New York that he “think[s] that the horse and carriages is iconic here in New York City, part of the transportation like the subways and buses are. I think it’s essential.”
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New York loves its horses! ?@CentralLaborNYC? ?@transportworker? ?@NYSAFLCIO? ?@nyclass? #CentralPark pic.twitter.com/CVg7lCKudr
— TWU Local 100 (@TWULocal100) October 3, 2020
New York Daily News reports that the total number of protestors was about 20, with one carriage driver waving and smiling as he rode past them.
The publication also notes the positive reactions among tourists and locals who were anxiously awaiting the return of the carriages on Saturday. One wife-to-be rode to her wedding in Sheep Meadow in a white carriage with her parents, while other families were excited to take their young children on rides around Central Park.
Giddy-up! Great to see them back in Central Park!
The one good thing about the pandemic was having the horses out of Central Park.
Bill de Blasio ran on the platform that he was going to finally get rid of horse drawn carriages in NYC, ending this outdated practice and needless suffering of horses. Many voted for him because he supported animal rights. He failed miserably and continues to fail New Yorkers on a daily basis.
Glad to see the carriage horses back, their drivers back at work, and one thing tourists can actually come and do back open in NYC.
Horse Lives Matter!