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Vegan Activists Protest Outside Nando's Wearing Chicken Masks

Vegan Activists Protest Outside Nando's Wearing Chicken Masks

The rally was part of a nationwide campaign to occupy the Nando's, placing pressure on the fast food chain to turn its entire menu vegan

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Nando's customers were given a bit of a shock when a group of vegan activists stormed a restaurant in Brighton, playing graphic footage of chickens being slaughtered to the diners.

Protestors gathered outside the restaurant wearing chicken masks to promote a plant-based food lifestyle.

Their rally was part of a nationwide campaign to occupy the Nando's, placing pressure on the fast food chain to turn its entire menu vegan.

At the protest on Wednesday, the group of 10 played footage filmed by animal activist groups, which allegedly showed workers standing on birds to break their necks.

Triangle News/Occupy Nando's

One activist could be heard announcing to the customers: "A chicken is an individual. A living, thinking, feeling being.

"A chicken can feel distress, and recognise stress in others.

"A chicken can feel empathy for others too. Shouldn't we, as human beings, show empathy for these suffering individuals?

Triangle News/Occupy Nando's

But despite the drama, workers continued to serve the Duke Street restaurant, which was packed full with customers.

The country-wide protests - which started last Friday - follow accusations that birds reared on farms supplying the likes Nando's, Lidl and Asda have been cruelly treated.

The accusations are currently being examined by company Avara Foods.

An Occupy Nando's spokesman said: "The protests are just one part of collective actions in many different ways to achieve a vegan world, where animals and humans are not exploited for our food choices, entertainment or what we wear.

"In this action specifically we disrupt to show up in places that sell violence.

"We urge Nando's to turn their entire menu vegan.

"We are not asking for better conditions for the animals they have been documented abusing, we want total animal liberation."

The protestors are uring Nando's to turn its entire menu vegan.
Triangle News/Occupy Nando's

On the Occupy Nando's Facebook page, activists explained the week-long protests were part of a bid to 'bring awareness to the suffering that lead to their meal'.

In a statement, the group outlines how campaigners should prepare for a protest, as well as how to deal with the police should they show up.

A spokesperson for Nando's said the police were called to the protest.

They said: "We can confirm that there was a small organised disturbance in one of our Brighton restaurants on Wednesday night and we are sorry for those customers who had their meals interrupted.

"We worked with the police to minimise any disruption in a peaceful way and allow our customers to enjoy their meal and have a great night."

This week's protest follows similar action in Brighton by a vegan group called Direct Action Everywhere, which saw protesters wearing pig masks target McDonald's and spray fake blood.

Featured Image Credit: Triangle News/Occupy Nando's

Topics: Food, UK News, News, Vegan, Nandos