April 25, 2019 2.10 pm This story is over 59 months old

Vegan activists take a stand on Lincoln High Street

They wanted to expose their truths on the issue
Vegan activists held a peaceful and non-violent protest - a Cube of Truth - on Lincoln High Street. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

Vegan activists held a peaceful protest on Lincoln High Street to expose what they say is “the truth about the meat and dairy industry around the world.”

Over 23 volunteers from animal rights organisation Anonymous for the Voiceless attended. This included four people who were stood in a Cube of Truth at the event outside Natwest on Lincoln High Street on Thursday, April 25.

They stood in a cube formation wearing masks and holding screens showing shocking footage from within animal agriculture provided by Land of Hope and Glory.

The Cube of Truth held screens showing footage from within animal agriculture. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

The aim was to show the public the plight and suffering of innocent animals within animal agriculture and to encourage people to move towards veganism or a vegan lifestyle.

Anonymous for the Voiceless has nearly a thousand chapters globally and Lincoln is the 116th one in the UK. Some of those attending the event were also part of a local group called Lincoln Animal Rights.

The Cube of Truth attracted attention on Lincoln High Street. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

There was literature to give out and volunteers on hand to talk about the issue with the public. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

Some of the people walking past seeing the footage stopped to chat to the volunteers after what they’d seen, but there was no pressure to talk or watch anything.

Any children under the age of 12 needed permission from parents to watch the footage as those hosting the event wanted to “be a responsible organisation”.

The screens showed footage from across the UK. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

It certainly got people on Lincoln High Street talking. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

Organiser for the Lincoln area Jack Thompson. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

Jack Thompson, 24, is the organiser for the Lincoln area.

He told The Lincolnite: “The main purpose of this is let people come to a conclusion themselves that what we are showing, the footage, is wrong and hopefully they will walk away considering a vegan lifestyle.”

Steve Witts from Grimsby Action For Animals. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

Steve Witts, 60, from Grimsby Action For Animals pursued the vegan path more strongly after attending a Vegan Festival at Lincoln Drill Hall around four years ago.

He said he feels fitter and healthier at 60 than he did at 16 due to what he eats and he hoped to change some minds at the event.

Leon with event organiser Jack Thompson. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

Leon, 32, from near Brigg, is the organiser for the Hull chapter for Anonymous for the Voiceless.

He added: “The majority of people when they see the footage and they understand and realise what’s going on within animal agriculture have the same response. The majority of people either say it upsets them or they don’t like to see it.

“We ask people then if that’s the case why contribute to it because the only reason why it happens is because people are paying for it.

“We’re encouraging people to look at the truth, have a look to see where their food, or what they consider food, comes from and realise that there’s a victim behind it.

“What a lot of people say is it’s a personal choice, but a personal choice shouldn’t involve a victim, whereas when you consume any animal product there is a direct victim involved, they have to be exploited and they have to be oppressed and ultimately slaughtered for people to consume their flesh and body parts.”

There will be another similar event at the same location on Sunday, May 5.