ANIMAL rights protesters have taken to the roof of the Darlington Farmers Mart in protest against what they say is an industry that 'violates' animals.
At 4am this morning (Saturday May 28), animal rights activists from the Animal Justice Project climbed the roof of the flagship National Beef Association (NBA) 2022 Expo with 15 metre banners and flares.
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They say they plan on staying up there indefinitely.
The industry event, hosted at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM), is the largest of its kind in the UK - with agricultural industry leaders, DEFRA representatives and 5,000 beef farmers expected to attend over the weekend.
Animal Justice Project has targeted the Expo to call for an end to animal agriculture due to what they say is a 'violation of animal rights'.
A spokesperson for Animal Justice Project on the ground, alongside several dozen protestors holding placards and banners, said that the activists had scaled the building in the early hours of this morning.
He said: “Climbers have been up there for hours and are determined to stay there to make their message heard."
The banners, which can be seen from the air and by event attendees as they enter the livestock auction, read ‘end animal agriculture’ and ‘farming violates the rights of animals’.
The stunt has caused chaos and one activist has been taken to hospital with a suspected broken finger in an alleged assault by those trying to remove them.
Police are present on the scene but no arrests have been made.
The Animal Justice Project spokesperson says the group's aim 'is not to be popular, but to advocate for the rights of animals'.
He added: "Our message to the agricultural sector, is that there is no future in animal farming.”
The group is calling for an end to animal agriculture, saying it exploits animals.
Activists also cite environmental concerns and the fact that, according to the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations), farmed animals are responsible for 14.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
The Darlington Farmers Mart is said to be a ‘state-of-the-art’ livestock auction trading in over 250,000 calves, sheep, horses and cows a year.
This weeken's Expo, hosted by the National Beef Association (NBA) is touted as a celebration of the ‘best in British’ and claims to be the ‘largest technical beef event in the UK’.
Speakers at the event include the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, Labour MP, Daniel Zeichner, and the Head of Agricultural Sectors at DEFRA.
Animal Justice Project says: “Today we send a clear message to the agriculture industry, at a poignant site where hundreds of thousands of animals are bought and sold each year like commodities, that animals have rights and current farming practices infringe on these day in, day out within the dairy, meat and egg industries.
"A staggering 1.2 billion animals are killed in this country each year and our investigations, along with many others, highlight the gross pain and suffering that these animals go through.
"Today is not a celebration of the 'Best of British', but a farming event that glorifies the exploitation and killing of animals - an industry that has yet to be held accountable.
"This is fundamentally wrong and unjust.”
“The urgency of this situation for animals is made even more grave bearing in mind that animal agriculture is the primary driver of climate change.
"Animal agriculture has no future and we are here to show that events such as today must not continue without being challenged.
"There is no future in animal agriculture. The future is vegan.”
Animal Justice Project is an animal protection NGO based in the UK with 200,000 followers and a seven-year history campaigning for animal welfare and advocating for a plant-based diet.
A spokesperson for The National Beef Association said: "This is a great event with a wonderful atmosphere and this will be a fantastic showcase for British beef"
Mark Dent, of Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, said: "Everybody has the right to protest, once you go down the route of trespass and criminal damage, for me you lose your argument.
"There are ways and means of getting your opinion across"
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