Animal rights protestors have scaled the roof of a major meat industry event - leading to chaos. The activists climbed onto the the building where a major beef industry event will be held today.
The protesters scaled the Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM) in the early hours with huge banners condemning farming and agriculture. The National Beef Association (NBA) 2022 Expo is the largest of its kind in the UK - with industry leaders, DEFRA representatives and 5,000 beef farmers expected to attend over the weekend.
The stunt has already caused chaos - with one activist hospitalised with a suspected broken finger having been allegedly assaulted by farmers on the roof.
A spokesperson for Animal Justice Project said: "Climbers have been up there for hours and are determined to stay there to make their message heard. Animals have rights and current farming practices infringe on these day in, day out within the dairy, meat and egg industries.
"Today is not a celebration of the 'Best of British', but a farming event that glorifies the exploitation and killing of animals. An industry that has yet to be held accountable."
As attendees of the event arrive at DFAM today they will see 15m banners that read 'end animal agriculture’ and ‘farming violates the rights of animals’. The protesters say they plan on staying up there indefinitely despite chaos after one was taken to hospital.
An Animal Justice Project spokesperson said their aim is not to be popular, but to advocate for the rights of animals." They added: "Our message to the agricultural sector is that there is no future in animal farming”.
The animal protection NGO is calling for an end to animal agriculture due to “years of undercover investigations on British farms illustrating the routine and systematic exploitation of animals. They say this is "alongside a history of the industry and government not just turning a blind eye to breaches of legislation but continuing to plough public money into funding it.”
Activists also cite environmental concerns and the fact that, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, farmed animals are responsible for 14.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
The meat industry event hosted by NBA is touted as a celebration of the ‘best in British’. It will see speakers including the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, Labour MP, Daniel Zeichner, and the Head of Agricultural Sectors at DEFRA. Police are present on the scene but no arrests have been made.
Animal Justice Project said: "The urgency of this situation for animals is made even more grave bearing in mind that animal agriculture is the primary driver of climate change. Animal agriculture has no future and we are here to show that events such as today must not continue without being challenged. There is no future in animal agriculture.”
