Contacts: 

Fleur Dawes, 415-879-6879, fleur@idausa.org

Anita Carswell, 415-532-9242, anita@idausa.org

Video: https://youtu.be/2E0iOgXbrkk

Photos: http://bit.ly/SFActivistsBranded

SAN FRANCISCO (October 3, 2018) – Four brave San Francisco Bay Area residents branded themselves with burning hot irons yesterday on World Day for Farmed Animals. The protest was organized by In Defense of Animals to raise awareness of the painful mutilations and slaughter of 150 billion animals for food every year.

Video footage shows four animal advocates being dragged across San Francisco’s UN Plaza by ‘farm workers.’ They flinch in pain as their arms and shoulders are branded with a burning hot iron heated to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Our peaceful protest shows how animals suffer extreme violence in the food industry,” said In Defense of Animals President, Marilyn Kroplick M.D. “We brought the hidden suffering of billions of animals to the streets of San Francisco on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday with his message, ‘be the change you want to see in the world’. You can make a difference by choosing vegan options and enjoy benefits to your health, animals, and the environment.”

This human-branding protest is the first of its kind in California, but part of an international movement that started in Israel. Thousands of animal activists around the world have branded or tattooed the number 269 on their skin as an act of solidarity with animal victims of the food industry. ‘269’ honors Calf 269 who was rescued from death on a dairy farm. Demonstrators undertake the painful protest to raise awareness of farmed animal suffering and to build compassion for all animals.

Learn how to make easy and healthful food choices www.idausa.org/vegguide

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In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048