A group of PETA activists caused a stir yesterday afternoon after serving up a Christmas dinner with a ‘baby’ in the middle of a busy city centre.
The demonstration was part of the organisation’s latest campaign to make people think twice about what they will be putting on their plates for Christmas dinner this year.
Some passers-by were intrigued by the striking image before them and stopped to take pictures or speak to the campaigners. However, others were not a fan of the display, Manchester Evening News reports.
During the demonstration activists were branded as ‘disgusting’ for equating human babies to turkeys and one member of the public could be heard saying that they would eat a turkey if it was on their plate this Christmas regardless of PETA’s efforts.
The striking set-up was the idea of 24-year-old campaigner Molly Elsdon who was hoping the display would “challenge the cruel tradition of eating turkeys on Christmas Day”.
Speaking to the MEN, she said: “The idea is to challenge the cruel tradition at Christmas of eating babies.
“Christmas is a time for peace and compassion, yet every year millions of turkeys suffer and die for the UK’s Christmas dinners.
“Turkeys are killed when they’re less than six months old and when it comes to their capacity to suffer and to feel pain and fear a turkey is no different to a human baby. We’re here to remind everyone that peace begins on our plates.
“By going vegan at Christmas you spare animals unfathomable suffering. You can still enjoy your favourite Christmas festivities, just without the cruelty.”
Late last month, PETA released a new ad to try and make the nation go vegan with their Christmas dinner this year.
The animal rights group’s first-ever Christmas advert features the story of a cute baby turkey named Toby who is thrown out of the back of a truck headed to the slaughterhouse by his mother.
After hearing about the demonstration, readers were keen to respond, posting their thoughts online and on the MEN’s Facebook page.
“What an utterly sick prank,” wrote one user. “The woman must have a seriously warped mind. If you are vegan, that’s okay, I can tolerate that but don’t shove it down everyone’s throat.”
“Think I’ll stick to turkey,” added another.
“I haven’t eaten meat for 30 years for various reasons but don’t agree that using what looks like a dead baby is a good way for PETA to advertise their campaign,” said a third. “They don’t seem to have thought of the effect this would have on somebody who has suffered the death of their baby suddenly seeing this as they walk past. I imagine it would give them a bit of a shock and be upsetting for them.”
“I don’t eat meat but I don’t preach to others about it! That is just sick!” wrote a fourth.
