By Chhaya Nene
Tuesday,
October 2, 2012 | 5:58 p.m. PDT PDT story
Dozens of people rallied
against Farmer John's meat packing plant Tuesday afternoon in protest of
their treatment of animals.
"I'm going to cry, I love the animals," said
Professor Linda Handelman. "I think what they are doing is completely
wrong."
Holocaust survivor, organizer and founder of the Farm Animal
Reform Movement (FARM), Alek Hershaft, said Farmer John's posts misleading
signs similar to ones he saw in Auschwitz. He claims that Farmer John's is
the largest producer of meat products in the West Coast.
"People need to
be aware you can live a happy and healthy life without meat," he said.
"There are signs or murals outside of Farmer John's that show happy pigs.
Auschwitz had similar signs, "Work is Freedom".
"I'm not saying that
animals and people are the same but they have similar qualities..." Hershaft
said.
Several protestors claimed inhumane treatment of the animals, one
man doesn't agree.
"I love bacon, I eat it everyday," said bystander
Johnny Chinga. "We absolutely need it to grow and be healthy."
Farmer
John's responded to today's protest saying, "Producing the highest quality
brand-name foods and meat products for consumers throughout the world starts
with industry-leading animal care practices. Since 1931, Farmer John has
focused on treating animals humanely, simply because it is the right thing
to do."
At the protest, Deanna Dylan Scott explained why she brought her
child to Farmer John's.
"I think it is insulting to my intelligence. I
brought my baby here to show her this mural is a lie," she said. "This is
not how animals are really treated."
World Animal Farm Day began in 1983
and is held annually to honor and celebrate the birth and non-violence
ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. Protesters said Gandhi's message applies to and
for the treatment of animals.