A successful stunt

Last week, on 15th December, two fearless Animal Justice Project activists scaled Defra's headquarters to drop a HUGE 9ft x 15ft banner from dizzying heights, demanding that they end animal agriculture amidst our largest ever bird flu outbreak, in order to prevent our next pandemic!

‍Heavy police presence was there from the start, with multiple riot vans lining the cordoned-off street. Brave activists remained on the building until 9am, despite the freezing cold temperatures, to put the pressure on Defra, who are failing to safeguard public health whilst allowing billions of animals' rights to be violated every year, all the for the sake of consumer demand and industry profit. They were arrested alongside one other activist who was simply observing at that time, for potential criminal damage and public nuisance. Arrestee support has been put in place for their release, which came over 15 hours after their arrival at the police station. Thanks to this support system, the brave activists were met with emotional and practical support when they left police custody between midnight and 1.30am. It is imperative that activists support each other in the fight for the end of animal agriculture.

^{Our demands to Defra are clear:}

1. Implement a subsidies scheme solely inventivising plant-based farming
2. Recognise the urgency of ending animal agriculture to prevent pandemics
3. Translate this recognition into legislative reform

Our message reached millions...

Numerous journalists reported on the stunt, educating millions of readers about why we're demanding for Defra to end animal agriculture!

‍National news outlets sharing our message included The Independent, Daily Mail, Sky News, Metro, Evening Standard, Morning Star, Plant-based News,Yahoo! News, MSN News,The National Wales, The National Scotland, and more...

‍Countless regional newspapers also published articles covering the action, spreading information about the dangers of bird flu across the UK and further afield. An overwhelming number of London-based newspapers covered the action, includingLondon World, South Wales Argus,Tottenham Independent, Enfield independent, Wandsworth Times, Wimbledon Guardian, Richmond and Twickenham Times, Watford Observer,Hackney Gazette,Guardian-Series and more.Regional newspapers across the UK distributed our message across every county, including South Wales Argus, North Wales Pioneer,Glasgow Times, Oxford Mail, Reading Chronicle, This is Wiltshire, North Somerset Times, East Lothian Courier, Surrey Comet, County Pressand over 30 more!

It was essential to make consumers aware that their own government is putting them, and animals, in danger by ignoring calls to take action amidst our largest ever bird flu outbreak. The individuals reached have also been made aware of the role their own food choices play in the emergence and spread of pandemics caused by animal agriculture, and have been encouraged to support a plant-based food system.

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Consumers have been made aware that:

• Zoonotic diseases threaten ALL sentient beings' lives
• Farms and slaughterhouses are breeding grounds for pandemics
• Animal agriculture violates animals' rights

We must carry on lobbying for a vegan food system

Powerful messages need to be spread in powerful ways. Direct action achieves results, drawing attention to important issues through large-scale media coverage. The more consumers we can rally together in support of animal rights, the closer we will come to a world where they are no longer violated. We must press on with more activism to ensure this becomes a reality! Those responsible for exploiting animals, and putting public health at risk in the process, must be held accountable. If we do everything in our power to win public support in ending animal agriculture, we can lobby government bodies to implement a food system that doesn't cause routine suffering.

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