Following their trespassing in dairy facilities around the nation, vegan protestors today targeted Britain’s future prime minister Liz Truss and were detained by police.
On Monday, protesters from Animal Rebellion began a second day of direct action against the processing facilities of Arla and Muller. They broke through truck tyres and filled pipes with expanding foam.
Just hours before the new Tory Party leader was announced, another Extinction Rebellion demonstration was held outside the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster.
Police frisked one guy before holding him as four others were seen sitting in the road outside Westminster Abbey with posters that said, “Plant-based future.”
After pledging to continue their disruption until there were “supermarket shortages” in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, the vegan activists ran the danger of incurring the fury of the general public.
Filmmaker Joel Scott-Halkes, 30, of Cornwall stated: “We are going to keep up the disruption of the dairy business until there are shortages in stores.
Until the Government and the next prime minister accede to our demands, this will be done, the group said.
A spokeswoman for Animal Rebellion said in a statement posted online that they were upsetting the dairy corporations “in the sake of animal and climate justice.”
While others broke into business locations to scale milk silos and loading bays, the anti-animal farming vegan protestors yesterday forced the trucks of the largest dairy companies to halt so that they could get on them.
The largest dairy distribution centre in the UK, which is owned by Arla and located in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, as well as three Muller plants—at Droitwich, Severnside, and Bridgwater—were all blocked off.
After the eco-fanatics stormed inside the factory and chained themselves to things, five protesters were still present at the Bridgwater location while specialised officers were brought to the scene.
Joel Scott-Halkes, 30, a protester taking part in the London sit-in, said today: “We are going to keep disturbing the dairy business until there are shortages in stores.”
He said, “We will continue to do this until the Government and the next prime minister accept our demands,” which include securing the shift to plant-based farming and reclaiming the land that will be freed up as a result.
The Extinction Rebellion offshoot confesses to disobeying a High Court order recently secured by Arla to put an end to the demonstrations.
Twenty-three protestors were detained at the Arla site, Thames Valley Police (TVP) said Wednesday night. Today, MailOnline called TVP to get a statement.
The Severnside Dairy factory has continued to operate during the demonstration, according to Gloucestershire Police, who also reported that they detained eight persons there.
According to Animal Rebellion, its supporters will keep engaging in non-violent direct action until the government supports shifting away from animal husbandry and fishing in favour of a system based on plants.
If the demonstrations continue for two weeks, “it is foreseeable that there will be milk shortages on store shelves,” according to the injunction Arla requested to put an end to the demonstrations.
When asked about the demonstrators at their Aylesbury site yesterday, Arla said that production was proceeding as usual and that they were cooperating closely with the local authorities to tackle the issue.
We are sad to have been singled out by a tiny group of campaigners who don’t speak for the 96% of British people who select milk each week, and we’ll make sure that supplies are kept up, said Muller UK & Ireland.
“Dairy is readily available and rich in nutrients that are good for our bodies. It is inappropriate to attempt to stop a cost of living crisis from affecting families during one.
According to Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray, the demonstration temporarily disrupted the Arla Foods facility and the A41, but it has now been safely handled with the arrest of 23 persons.
“Our reaction to the demonstration has compromised our capacity to manage crimes and safeguard vulnerable people throughout the Thames Valley.”
The Thames Valley Police will take action when protest activity interferes with people going about their legitimate business, even if they recognise the right to peaceful protest.
“The Thames Valley Police will always respond forcefully to anyone who commit crimes while participating in protests.”
“Protesters have departed the area, and patrols will stay in the vicinity,” it said.
10% of the dairy products produced in the UK are processed at the Arla Aylesbury distribution centre, which distributes over two billion litres of fresh milk annually between its four locations.
According to the organisation, the government must “rewild the freed-up land and seas” and assist farmers in switching to a plant-based diet.
Recent videos of Animal Rebellion pouring milk on the Harrods Food Hall floor attracted harsh condemnation from social media users, who labelled the move as “foolish.”
Twitter users noted that the demonstrators were merely creating “a mess for the cleaners to clean up” and making it “hazardous for handicapped customers.” They also conducted sit-ins at other supermarkets and stripped shelves of milk and dairy items.
“You didn’t harm the dairy sector here, you just handed them a big new order,” one said.
“You harm the store’s employees (who may face punishment for the expense of the additional order), you hurt the store’s impoverished and food-insecure patrons, and you put handicapped customers in risk.”
What’s wrong with you, I ask.
From 5:00 am today, protesters blocked traffic and scaled business vehicles, milk silos, and loading docks.
A another person said, “Why do you idiots constantly cause difficulty for the working classes, but never for yourself?”
Even some vegans have criticised the group, calling their activities at Harrods “detrimental” and “hypocritical.”
Am I the only vegan who was extremely worried rather than pleased by the Harrods milk protest, asked one account to start the discussion?
Other accounts were quick to concur, with one claiming they “didn’t understand it” and that it made “vegans seem like idiots.”
The very thought of that demonstration makes me angry, according to another report. At best, it is hypocritical.