For Immediate Release:
September 22, 2022
Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382
Detroit, Mich. – To help some of the 600,000 Michigan residents who live in food deserts—and because a whopping 20,800 households in the Motor City are reportedly experiencing food insecurity—PETA is teaming up with Detroit City Council President Pro Tem James Tate on Saturday to give away vegan chickpea tuna wraps from Estella’s Vegan Cuisine & Desserts, pints of JD’s Vegan ice cream donated by music producer Jermaine Dupri, and boxes packed with fresh produce, tofu, and more. The giveaway will directly follow a District 1 city council meeting, where a PETA representative will speak to Tate’s constituents about the group’s national food justice campaign to help bring healthy foods to food deserts.
When: Saturday, September 24, 12 noon
Where: Christian Fellowship of Love Baptist Church, 22400 Grand River Ave., Detroit
“The COVID-19 pandemic threw the undeniable reality of America’s food insecurities into sharp relief,” says Tate. “Together with PETA, we can help address some of the issues disproportionately affecting communities of color, including by making fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy fare accessible for all.”
“Everyone deserves access to nourishing vegan foods, no matter what their zip code is,” adds PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is delighted to bring our food justice campaign to Detroit and is calling on lawmakers to prioritize leveling the food playing field across all communities.”
As part of the campaign, PETA is urging people in Michigan and beyond to text JUSTICE to 73822 to call on their legislators to redirect meat, egg, and dairy industry subsidies toward incentives for grocers in food deserts to stock fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy, humane vegan foods. Such an action would save animals’ lives; help vulnerable communities reduce their rates of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; and safeguard the planet, given that animal agriculture is responsible for nearly one-fifth of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S. government currently spends about $38 billion in tax money each year subsidizing the meat, egg, and dairy industries—the vast majority of which goes to big corporations, not American farmers—while only about $17 million is used to subsidize the fruit and vegetable industries.
PETA is also running its “Eat Good. Feel Good.” television spot featuring John Salley and music from Lizzo, both Detroit natives, on NBC this week. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
