Animal rights protesters are blockading four UK distribution centres for McDonald’s which they say will impact roughly 1,300 restaurants.
Animal Rebellion said they are using trucks and bamboo structures at the distribution sites in Hemel Hempstead, Basingstoke, Coventry and Heywood, Greater Manchester, to stop lorries from leaving depots.
The group are demanding McDonald’s commit to becoming fully plant-based by 2025.
In a video posted on Twitter, a protester in Coventry said the demonstration “feels like the absolutely right thing to do”.
She added: “We are in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency and we are still consuming huge quantities of meat on a scale that is just not sustainable for our planet.”
A spokesman said the officers are helping to “maintain safety whilst facilitating the right to peaceful protest” and “there is minimum disruption to the local community”.
James Ozden, a spokesman for the protest group, said the action is aimed at calling out the animal agriculture industry for their part in the global climate crisis.
UPDATE: COVENTRY BLOCKADE REBEL.
“This feels like absolutely the right thing to do. We’re in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency but we’re eating huge amounts of meat. It’s unsustainable.” Well said! ????@McDonaldsUK we’re waiting for your reply. #plantbased pic.twitter.com/uxmkplOCjm
— Animal Rebellion (@RebelsAnimal) May 22, 2021
He said: “The meat and dairy industry is destroying our planet: causing huge amounts of rainforest deforestation, emitting immense quantities of greenhouse gases and killing billions of animals each year.
“The only sustainable and realistic way to feed ten billion people is with a plant-based food system. Organic, free-range and ‘sustainable’ animal-based options simply aren’t good enough.”
McDonald’s has been contacted for comment.
