Hope Casella-Holtum an organizer for Liberation Los Angeles, explains that this group of protestors is here to protest the slaughter of sentient beings which takes place on a regular basis at this establishment. This slaughterhouse is right next to residential area and these activists are here to advocate for the people who are effected by the presence of this slaughterhouse in their neighborhood as well.
Hope also explains that the protestors are not there to put the company out of business but to shed light on their practices in hope that they will change their business practices to one’s that are cruelty-free. They simply want to help the owners transition to a business that does not involve the loss of sentient beings lives. Examples offered by Hope are faux meat businesses, plant-based businesses, or vegan businesses. Hope lives in this neighborhood, so it bothers her personally to have this slaughterhouse in proximity to her home. It’s low income area so the people that live here have no choice but to endure businesses like these in their backyard.
Ironically, directly across the street there is an animal hospital. This demonstrates the speciesism of our society. We love one animal and eat the other. The slaughterhouse starts playing very loud music in order to deter activists. But that was not going to happen on this day. Activists chants overcame the loud music. “Animals lives are their right, we have just begun to fight!”
Jane Velez-Mitchell is an award-winning TV journalist and New York Times best-selling author. She is the founder of UnchainedTV and the host of several shows on the network.