A civil resistance group has announced plans to disrupt the Grand National this weekend.
The group has vowed "the biggest campaign of animal-focussed actions the UK has seen in decades" this summer in a bid to spark a national conversation about our relationship with "non human animals and the natural world".
Animal Rising, formerly known as Extinction Rebellion linked group Animal Rebellion, said it starts this Saturday, when they are urging animal lovers to "just turn up" at Aintree Racecourse at 9.30am.
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Orla Coghlan, an Irish volunteer with the Animal Rising group, spoke on Good Morning Britain about the plans on Tuesday morning. She said: "We care very much about animals and we're trying to protect those horses by being there on the track."
She explained: "The second thing we're trying to do is have this big public conversation. I'm here today and I'm sure a million families are at home having these conversations over breakfast."
Animal Rising action coordinator, Rose Patterson, said: "This summer we’ll be taking action to save animal lives and create a long-overdue discussion about how we all live needs to align with the values the vast majority of us hold. This begins on Saturday when we’re calling on all animal lovers to come together at The Grand National and make their voices heard.
"Whether it’s horses on a racetrack, rabbits or dogs in testing facilities, or the millions of other animals in our food system, the time to protect them is now. We know most people are on our side because most people think of themselves as animal lovers.
"We urgently need to come together and focus on what we have in common, rather than allow politicians like Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman to divide us. We stand at a crossroads in history and it is the responsibility of ordinary people across the globe to do the right thing and build a better world."
The group says it has trained over 500 people to take peaceful action to protect animals and nature, in order to tackle the climate, ecological and animal emergencies.
Previous actions include a bid to shut all McDonald’s UK distribution centres, stop the supply of dairy to supermarkets and rescue 23 beagle puppies from a facility that breeds animals for testing.
Animal Aid say four horses died running in the Grand National last year. They were Eclair Surf, who suffered head injuries; Discorama who suffered a broken pelvis; Elle Est Belle who collapsed during the race and Somwara One who was put to sleep after suffering an injury.
According to the animal rights charity a total of 59 horses have died after racing at Aintree since 2000, with 23 deaths occurring following changes to the course in 2012.
Animal Rising have called for an end to horse racing, animal farming and fishing and would like a "plant based future".
On Sunday night, Animal Rising supporters spray-painted the group’s logo (a stylised ∀) and put up posters in cities including London and Manchester, targeting betting shops and adverts ahead of the Grand National.
Merseyside Police said in a statement: "We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly."
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