A local animal rights organization says it won't be deterred after it claims two of its members were assaulted and harassed by staff of a downtown London restaurant.
On Saturday night, two members of Animal Liberation Alliance London were outside Jack Astor's on Richmond St., holding large pictures of pigs being taken to slaughter and talking to passersby about what it says is the "violence inherent in the unnecessary use of non-humans for human consumption."
According to a statement from the group, members Samantha McPherson and Chelsea Gross were doused with water and vinegar which was poured by staff from the restaurant's roof.
“Five staff took to the roof to dump a bucket of cold water, followed by a bucket of very hot water, followed by a bucket of vinegar on us, all the while shouting obscenities,' says Gross. "And we’re the crazy ones?”
The statement says police arrived and looked at security video but were unable to identify the staff members responsible.
The general manager of Jack Astor's told the London Free Press that an internal investigation will be done, while the restaurant's parent company said in a statement on their Facebook page staff members implicated have received "discipline" and "additional training".
“Unfortunately, the assault on McPherson and Gross is an all too common problem in the non-human advocacy movement," says Jason King, Co-Founder of Animal Liberation Alliance London. "We as a society objectify and oppress non-humans so much that we don’t see them as worthy of even a peaceful protest on their behalf. The human indifference and oppression of pigs has quickly translated by the offenders to the indifference and oppression of those who speak up for pigs, enabling them to assault peacefully protesting people.”
King says the incident won't stop the group from continuing to demonstrate.
“The animal liberation movement is not going away any time soon, in fact, it is getting larger and louder. We intend to bring our message and actions to the streets of London much more often now. Expect us London," says King.
