In the first of dozens of mobilisations in a “Global Lockdown for Animal Rights,” three dedicated activists have chained themselves by the neck to the pillars of Brighton Town Hall today.
The Brighton chapter of Direct Action Everywhere, who have previously made headlines worldwide for disrupting steakhouses with slaughterhouse footage and for pouring fake blood inside a McDonald’s, have taken their plight today to the local government to demand basic rights for animals be enshrined into law. Multiple activists are currently driving home their dedication by chaining themselves to the Brighton Town Hall.
The group, part of an international grassroots network of animal rights activists ‘Direct Action Everywhere’ have quickly gained media attention, as one of the activists who were locked on wholeheartedly exclaimed:
“We are here today for all sentient beings, who are being oppressed by the unjust laws of a system that fails to represent them. We are calling on Brighton City Council to show their support for an animal bill of rights and help this law be passed.”
“An animal bill of rights needs to be implemented if we are to stop violence towards non-human animals. I’m willing to risk arrest and my job security to raise awareness of speciesism – the oppression of non-human animals upon which our current system is reliant”
“Will you take action? Will you join the social justice movement and fight for animal liberation? The time is now – will you stand on the right side of history?”
A petition has been created to gather support for the bill of rights, which in its first few days has already gained hundreds of signatures. Many local politicians have received letters asking them to take a stand on the right side of history and announce their support for Rose’s law. A spokesperson for DAE highlighted the lack of response they have received from MP’s and the Council.
“It is in response to a lack of support expressed by these MPs and councillors so far, that we have been forced to be here taking action today. We will never stand by and allow oppression to go unchallenged. Speciesism, like racism, sexism and fascism, is a form of oppression and all MUST be challenged. They must not be allowed to perforate through society without a fight. We are bringing this fight to the town hall today and using the power of civil resistance to demand justice for all”
Thousands of others around the world are expected to take action between September 29th and October 5th, with hundreds of civil disobedience arrests at government buildings, farms and other locations worldwide. Today in Germany, DxE activists are forming a human blockade on train tracks, blocking public transport from moving to demand the bill be enshrined into the German constitution.
The proposed “Rose’s Law: The Animal Bill of Rights” extends the following to all animals –
- The right to be rescued from exploitative situations
- The right to not be abused, exploited, or killed by humans
- The right to have their interests represented in court and protected by the law
- The right to a protected home, habitat or ecosystem
- The right to be free or to have a guardian – not owned
This action comes in the midst of a growing global movement from California to Canada to Australia — leading a wave of serious activists prosecutions.The global lockdowns correlate with the one-year anniversary of the rescue of a chicken named Rose from a Petaluma, California factory farm which supplies to Amazon. Whistleblower footage revealed thousands of birds confined in filthy, industrial sheds, many sick, unable to walk, and starving. While Rose was rescued, nine other chickens were taken from activists’ arms by police and later killed. 58 activists were arrested on charges. One of the Petaluma arrestees subsequently confronted Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos at a Las Vegas tech conference in June, asking about the company’s silence on animal cruelty and whistle-blower prosecutions.
Brighton Journal spoke directly to a spokeswoman who wished to remain anonymous, telling us that the protesters have stayed rooted to their spot for a total of eighteen-hours now. She stressed the importance of de-normalising the abuse, use and experimentation entrenched within the laws surrounding animal rights, urging anyone to come and show their support and demand action.
