NEWS
PETA protests KFC chicken policy
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Evan Hall:
- Mayor appoints booze marshall (October 11, 2007)
- Fire Department fights for prevention (October 8, 2007)
- Leaf collection begins downtown (October 1, 2007)
- Bar owners react to Density Plan (September 20, 2007)
- City Council to vote on controversial 'bar ban' (September 18, 2007)
Related Stories:
- KFC chicken cruelty (October 13, 2003)
- PETA: university labs worst in nation (February 2, 2006)
- PETA admonishes LSU lab (September 22, 2005)
- State representative calls for legal action against PETA (April 29, 2003)
- PETA claims milk is unhealthy (October 3, 2003)
by Evan Hall
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals bared all Wednesday afternoon outside a local Kentucky Fried Chicken to raise awareness about the restaurant chain’s factory-farming abuses.
Wearing only a sign reading, "The Naked Truth: KFC Tortures Chickens," and "Turn Your Back on KFC Cruelty," PETA worker Lindsey Rajt and campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne paraded past rush-hour traffic on East Washington Avenue and joined other protestors in urging passersby to boycott KFC.
"We are letting people know that if they are eating at KFC, they are supporting a company that refuses to follow the advice of their own animal welfare advisors and eliminate the worst abuses of their chickens," Byrne said.
Protesters handed out pamphlets and DVDs to customers pulling into KFC’s drive-through detailing how chickens in KFC factory farms are scalded alive, their throats are slit, and their wings and legs are broken.
Byrne described the cruel conditions in one KFC slaughterhouse that was named a "Supplier of the Year," where workers were documented tearing the heads off chickens, slamming their bodies against walls, spray-painting their faces, and spitting tobacco in their eyes.
"If this is the best KFC has to offer, it’s hard to imagine what the worst must look like," Byrne said.
Byrne and the other PETA protesters are currently on a two-week tour of the Midwest, performing similar demonstrations in 18 cities. According to Byrne, there have been more than 12,000 protests worldwide since the PETA campaign started five years ago.
With road construction blocking the PETA demonstrators from directly accessing East Washington Avenue, the protest didn’t inconvenience too many people, though there was a brief scuffle with a small group of anti-protesters defending KFC.
Madison resident Jim Grot, a self-professed KFC devotee, came bearing a KFC bucket in hand to protest the protesters.
"Not eating meat is a choice, and I’m having my choice of eating meat," Grot said. "I’m eating their chicken. I love their chicken, extra crispy," he added, crunching down on a chicken wing to demonstrate his point.
Grot evidently had no qualms about the images of beheaded and blood-spattered chickens displayed by protesters, countering their chants of "There’s no excuse for animal abuse; Boycott KFC!" with "I love my murder!"
"They make it look like the world is ‘Disney-fied,’ where all the animals talk to one another and are friendly, and the predators eat vegetables," Grot said through a mouthful of fried chicken. "It’s not a ‘Disney-fied’ world."
Bill Madden, who held a sign reading, "Do you love chicken? Then honk!" said he didn’t think the PETA protest was very effective, as he hadn’t noticed any potential customers change their mind about buying KFC.
However, the dining room in the restaurant was deserted save for a group of managers, who declined to comment.
According to KFC’s Animal Welfare Program policy on its website, the company is "monitoring our suppliers on an ongoing basis to determine whether our suppliers are using humane procedures for caring for and handling animals they supply to us."
Despite Madden’s observations, Byrne reported the protest was a success. She said many of the customers pulling into the drive-thru turned back after viewing the posters and leaflets protesters were handing out.
"People are very compassionate, and generally at our protests when they see these images and hear the stories of how chickens are brutally tortured, they decide to bring their business someplace else," Byrne said. "We are hoping people choose to boycott KFC until they choose to start taking animal welfare seriously."
Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 4:13am):
I love that dude in the picture...totally getting a great view.
Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 8:28am):
The People for the Eating of Tasty Animals (The Real PETA) understands your concerns. We will discuss them at our next Feast of the Flesh dinner.
Thank You
Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 9:08am):
We should be growing chicken meat artificially in big vats, and the same with pork and beef.
Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 1:02pm):
No, the nude woman on the right is not a manager at state street KFC/Taco Bell, that would be ridiculous of her to protest if that was the case. Her name is Lindsey and she's a senior campaign coordinator for PETA and doesn't live in WI.
Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 1:21pm):
She's not nude, she had bandaids over her nipples and was wearing flesh colored panties.
Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 4:49pm):
One of PETA's slogans is "A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy." Consider the implications of that. That's all I need to treat everything they say and believe with utter and complete contempt and disgust.
Anonymous (October 19, 2007 @ 7:49am):
The cold, hard fact is that without death, there is no life. Is murdering plants really any different than killing animals? Especially since recent studies have shown that plants can, and do react to being damaged. Plants that are picked can release pheromones that alert nearby plants, and in some species, these plants can deploy chemical defenses in response. I long ago learned to deal with the fact that something has to die for me to eat a meal. That's just the way that nature works. And one day, I will also die, and other things will feed on me.
Anonymous (October 19, 2007 @ 8:31am):
No, we need to look at their claims and do our own research. Don't dismiss facts just because you don't like some parts of their philosophy. Chickens are not protected by any law and therefore they are treated horribly before they are made into artery-clogging dishes destined to add another roll of fat on your stomach. People don't even think of where their food is coming from, it's disgusting. They shouldn't have to suffer so much, wtf?
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 8:49pm):
Hmm...i think that dude didnt even look once.
Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 10:51pm):
i think it is disgusting the way they treat animals. this should be treated seriously:(
Anonymous (February 6, 2008 @ 3:37pm):
I have Chickens as Pets they are the Sweetest and the Most Inquisitive animals I Think is is disgusting how inhumane these chickens are Kept and how they are abused I have seen several Videos and a Video does not lie I realize that for some people eating farm animal is for survival but this does not mean that should be inhumaly treated.
Anonymous (April 17, 2008 @ 5:51pm):
i love chicken
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
