NEW YORK (Court TV) — The army of protesters turned out to be a small squad equipped only with fake tomatoes and hand-made signs, but a few staunch anti-fur activists managed to get their message out to Sean "Puffy" Combs, if not in the most direct manner.

The Fur Campaign Coordinator for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, RayLeann Smith, was quoted in yesterday's New York Post saying that the animal rights group would muster "an army of bright young activists in New York" to protest Combs' use of fur in his clothing line and alleged deception of the press.

But whatever chanting occurred outside of the State Supreme Court building in lower Manhattan on Wednesday was hardly audible above the hustle and bustle of a New York morning, and the rally was kept far enough from the courthouse entrance so that Combs slipped into the building without incident.

"We want to let Puffy know that it's not okay to lie to the press and the public," said Smith, 29.

A Combs spokesman told the Associated Press on February 8 that the music mogul turned fashion designer had "matured" and decided not to use fur in his latest clothing designs. A scant two days after the story ran, Combs unveiled the fall 2001 collection of his Sean John clothing line in a million dollar bash at Manhattan's Bryant Park. Many of the new threads were adorned with real fur.

Attempts to reach a Sean John spokesman were unsuccessful Wednesday afternoon.

The music mogul is on trial on weapons possession charges related to the shooting of three patrons at a Times Square nightclub. Although the activists didn't get to confront Combs about his alleged lies, they thought his shiftiness on the fur issue might hinder his chances inside the courthouse.

"His credibility is really at stake. It's a very bad move for him to be lying to the public at this point," said Patrick Kwan, a 19-year-old PETA member. "I'm sure the courts won't miss the connection."

It was almost easy to miss the activists themselves. The rally didn't seem to faze most New Yorkers, who, when not hurrying to work, gawked instead at the camera crews amassed for Combs' arrival. A month into the trial, a large media contingent — usually six or seven film crews and many reporters — still flocks to the courthouse on a daily basis.

Amongst New Yorkers watching the media stampede from the street, opinion about Combs' trial seemed split down the middle. While most people agreed that Combs should be treated fairly and like any other citizen, there was no consensus upon what this might entail.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've been in nightclubs. I know what can happen with a few drinks. You wake up and wonder who you have to apologize to," said Peter Rotollo, 67. "If it wasn't him, (the trial) would never happen."

Rotollo had an interesting connection to the defendant — he had done some work for Justin's, a restaurant that Combs owns and named after his son, and even met the rap mogul's mother once while on the job.

"The people are nice in (Justin's). They give you free drinks, everything you want to eat, for nothing," added Rotollo.

This good will wasn't shared by all. Other bystanders were concerned not that Combs had been unfairly targeted because of his celebrity, but that he would get off easy.

"If he shot that girl in the face, he should go to jail," said Sherman Williams, 36. "He's still a human being. He bleeds just like I do. Don't treat him special."