Arrests made as Animal Rebellion descends on McDonalds
24th May 2021
Animal rights activists blockaded all four UK distribution centres, demanding the fast-food giant go 100 per cent plant-based by 2025.
Image © Twitter/Animal Rebellion.
Police have arrested 14 people after Animal Rebellion activists formed blockades at McDonalds distribution centres, citing the restaurant chain’s role in the climate change emergency, Amazon deforestation and animal suffering.
The group is demanding McDonald’s becomes fully plant-based by 2025.
More than 50 activists blockaded the chain’s four UK distribution centres, using trucks and bamboo structures to stop lorries leaving depots – cutting off supply to 1,300 restaurants for a combined total of 95 hours.
Hampshire Police confirmed eight people were arrested in Basingstoke and charged with aggravated trespass, and watching or besetting a house or place to compel the abstention or doing of a lawful act, an offence under Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
All of those arrested have been released on conditional bail to appear in court on 8th June.
Hertfordshire Police also arrested and charged six people with use of violence or intimidation on person, family or property to compel activity or abstention from lawful activity; and obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in a lawful activity.
West Midlands Police and Greater Manchester Police said they made no arrests.
Animal Rebellion describes itself as ‘a mass movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to call for a sustainable plant-based food system’. It has hit out at agriculture, with trucks during the protest bearing slogans such as ‘Meat & Dairy = Climate Crisis’ and ‘Plant-Based Food System!’.
A spokesperson for the group, James Ozden, said: “The only sustainable and realistic way to feed 10 billion people is with a plant-based food system. Organic, free-range and ‘sustainable’ animal-based options simply aren’t good enough.”
Animal Rebellion claims investigations have revealed that McDonalds has played a role in the illegal destruction of the Amazon Rainforest, with 80 per cent of the Amazon’s deforestation blamed on cattle ranching.
The demonstrations come as the UK negotiates post-Brexit trade deals – with many raising concerns that tariff-free deals could undercut British farmers, resulting in imports of products with lower animal welfare and environmental standards. UK farming standards are recognised as being among the highest in the world.
