'Rebellion' protests to target meat sector

A series of protests targeting the meat industry are planned this week, as part of the wider Extinction Rebellion protests.

While the main focus of the protests around the world continues to be climate change, a vegan group calling itself Animal Rebellion is seeking to use the movement to campaign against eating meat.

In London, environmental activists have said they will  attempt to ‘shut down’ the heart of government with two weeks of disruptive protests. This will include protests at Government departments and blockading key transport routes.

While it is impossible to gauge the likely scale of any protests, Animal Rebellion has announced plans to 'occupy' Smithfield market, which supplies many of London’s food outlets with meat.

However, following what appears to be some disagreement within the group, the initial plans to ‘shut down’ the iconic Smithfield market for around 10 days have been scaled down to a 24-hour protest, according to a report in the Mail. This was reportedly in response to ‘fears that it might lead to violent clashes and cause economic hardship to mostly working-class stallholders’.

Instead, the protest has been broadened out, blockades are planned for Defra and Red Tractor, which has offices in London, as well Billinsgate fish market and ‘unspecified facilities’ belonging to global meat companies, Cargill and JBS’, which through Pilgrim’s Pride, is set to take over Tulip.

The Mail article provides some interesting insight into the people behind Animal Rebellion and notes its links to other organisations, including RSPCA.