Members of Stoke-on-Trent animal rights activists (STAR) were holding a banner and handing out leaflets in front of Wayne Walker Quality Meats in Longport when a passing car began hurling KFC chicken at them

Vegan activists were pelted with KFC chicken legs while protesting against the exploitation of animals outside a butchers.

Nine demonstrators with a 10 metre banner, reading ‘friends not food’, were standing in front of Wayne Walker Quality Meats in Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, when motorists hurled fast food at them.

Friends of the attackers filmed the incident and police were called to the scene – however, the protest, in Davenport Road, was otherwise peaceful.

Activist Bradley Shaw told StokeonTrentLive he was disappointed with the taunting, with some people thinking “it’s a bit of fun to have a go at a vegan”.

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The 22-year-old said staff at the butchers were also “giving them a bit of stick at first and told us to clear off” – but eventually left them alone.

Passengers in a car began pelting them with chicken legs (Image: Stoke Sentinel WS)

The electrician, who’s been vegan for two years and a member of Stoke-on-Trent animal rights activists (STAR), said other motorists beeped their horn in support of the protest.

Mr Shaw said they were shocked when one car went around the roundabout off where they were stood and began chucking the food, with one protester “hit by a chicken leg”.

The group say the incident has not deterred them ( 
Image:
Stoke Sentinel WS)
“There’s a KFC just up the road so I think they had seen us and gone there and decided to taunt us.

“We could see their mates filming in the car and hear them shouting and laughing.”

He went on to say, they activists handed out leaflets explaining their aims as cars stopped at the traffic lights.

“The point of the protest was to pose the question about why people think it’s OK to eat pigs when they have been proven to be as intelligent as dogs.

“A lot of people were interested in what we had to say,” continued Mr Shaw.

“Overall, we had a good response, although we did get abused more than we normally would when we’re in Hanley.”

STAR had selected Wayne Walker because it is well-known in the area and are planning future events but don’t have a confirmed location or date as yet.

“It could be that we target McDonald’s or somewhere like that,” said Mr Shaw.

The activist said he is “used to getting ridiculed for my beliefs” – often by online trolls – and recognises veganism is a controversial topic but he and fellow members are “here to stand up for the animals”.

He said those who oppose his message often tell him he’s negatively affecting people’s livelihoods.

Wayne Walker’s shop manager Michael Parker said he doesn’t have a problem with what the group stands for but disagrees with “pushing their agenda on to other people”.

“Their biggest problem seemed to be that we sell meat at low prices but we don’t actually slaughter any animals,” he continued.

“Thankfully the protest didn’t put off any of our customers. In fact, it was more like free publicity.

“The police did come but the protesters weren’t doing anything illegal,” he added.