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Animal Rebellion
Sep 7, 20223 min read

Big Ben Sprayed With Paint: Animal Rebellion Supporters Disrupt Westminster Ahead Of PMQs

Updated: Jun 3

Big Ben Sprayed With Paint: Animal Rebellion Supporters Disrupt Westminster Ahead Of Liz Truss’ First PMQs



  • At 10:45 today (7/9/22), a group of 9 individuals entered the road junction at Parliament St, blocking the junction and pouring fake milk, represented by white paint, onto the road. 2 of the group also used modified fire extinguishers to spray Big Ben in fake milk.

  • Animal Rebellion has targeted Liz Truss ahead of her first PMQs, in a bid to force her into negotiation for their demands [1].

  • The action comes on the 4th consecutive day of Animal Rebellion’s disruption of the dairy industry, with empty milk shelves now reported in Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Birmingham [2].



Supporters of Animal Rebellion have covered the Parliament Square Junction and Big Ben with fake milk in an escalation of their “Plant-Based Future” campaign. This is after the group disrupted Liz Truss’s announcement as Prime Minister on Monday (5/9/22) and has disrupted 6 critical dairy distribution facilities since Sunday (4/9/22) [3].


Andrew Howard, 63, a retired firefighter from Sheffield, at Westminster this morning said “Today’s action is a direct challenge to Prime Minister Liz Truss. We are calling on her to make the drastic changes that we know need to happen in order to combat the cost-of-living, climate, and ecological crises we are facing.”
“Supporting farmers into a plant-based future, whilst rewilding the land this would free up, is a total no-brainer. A plant-based future means cheaper food, more nature, and massive amounts of carbon drawn down from the atmosphere. It’s a win for everyone”

The action puts pressure on new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, to directly acknowledge Animal Rebellion’s demands for a plant-based future. The group is also calling on the new DEFRA minister, Ranil Jayawardena, to use their new position and implement their demands.

This appointment, Animal Rebellion claims, further jeopardises the livelihood of British farmers. Jayawardena’s inability to provide assurances on the free trade deal with Australia before Parliament broke for summer has left farmers in an uncertain and worrying position [4].

Dr Alice Brough, 31, a livestock veterinarian from Gloucestershire has said “Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena’s attitude of prioritising free trade, no matter the cost, has shown shocking neglect for British farmers, and therefore the rest of us struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.”
“The new Prime Minister Liz Truss needs to immediately rebuild her broken relationship with farming and fishing communities and support a sustainable, plant-based food system by tackling the energy price crisis, rising costs, and lack of security British farms are facing. Supporting farmers in a plant-based transition will achieve all of this and more.”

The action today comes as part of Animal Rebellion’s demands for a plant-based future, which were announced on Monday 23rd of May [5]. The animal and climate group is calling for wholesale governmental support for farmers and fishing communities to transition to a plant-based food system and programme of rewilding that will secure a future for generations to come.

Animal Rebellion is a mass movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to call for a just, sustainable plant-based food system.


ENDS

Word Count: 521

High-quality pictures and videos: https://show.pics.io/plant-based-future

For interviews or further comment please contact:

Nathan (Press Back Office): 07466114387

Jax (Press Back Office): 07424947798

pressoffice@animalrebellion.org

Notes To Editors:

[1] Animal Rebellion is demanding that 1. Government supports farmers and fishing communities to move away from animal farming and fishing as part of an urgent and immediate transition to a plant-based food system. 2. Government commits to rewild the freed-up land and ocean as part of a broader programme of wildlife restoration and carbon drawdown.



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