AHDB criticises vegan protests after Big Ben sprayed in paint
© Animal Rebellion Vegan activists protesting against the dairy industry descended on Westminster to spray white paint at Big Ben using modified fire extinguishers, and to block traffic by sitting in the road.
A group of Animal Rebellion supporters threw paint over the gates and walls of the Palace of Westminster beneath Big Ben on Wednesday 7 September.
The attack on such an iconic building prompted a backlash on social media, with many criticising the group for their actions.
Activists from Animal Rebellion have sprayed parliament with white paint and called on the Government to support a plant-based future, as Liz Truss prepares to face Keir Starmer at PMQs.@RebelsAnimal | #PMQs pic.twitter.com/ccLHeKL1du
— TalkTV (@TalkTV) September 7, 2022
The Met Police said it made 10 arrests on what was the fourth consecutive day of disruption.
See also: Vegan activists arrested over £80,000 damage at Muller site
Several milk processing sites in England have been targeted by hundreds of protestors who have blocked entrances and broken into secure compounds to drill through delivery truck tyres, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
© Animal Rebellion
On Thursday 8 September, protestors returned to Muller’s dairy in Droitwich, Worcestershire, to block the site entrance.
Following reports that suggest some supermarkets are now being affected by the disruption, Animal Rebellion has been criticised for denying families nutritious dairy products during the cost-of-living crisis.
© Animal Rebellion
Will Jackson, the AHDB’s director for engagement, said the disruption could not be coming at a worse time.
“We are seeing a situation at the moment where people are really struggling and their ability to be able to buy food is compromised and dairy is a hugely important part of people’s diets,” he told the BBC’s Hereford and Worcester radio show.
“Over 99% of households bought dairy in the past month. We’ve got farmers out there who work tirelessly to produce a quality product with high standards and really care about the environment and trying to do things in the right way.
“I think the protestors have got the wrong target and they’re doing it very much at the wrong time.”
Animal Rebellion wants the government to help farmers “transition to a plant-based food system and programme of rewilding that will secure a future for generations to come”.