We killed it. Check out teaser video, as well as the full State Fair Disruption and Swap Speciesism Sketch. From our press release:

"October 25, 2015, Raleigh – On Sunday, October 25th at 2:30 p.m., activists with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) and Collectively Free (CF) held demonstrations both inside and outside the North Carolina State Fair in protest of the exploitation and slaughter of animals to be used as commodities. Activists met at the State Fair Ark to deliver speeches and hold signs with messages demanding the end of animal agriculture.

As they left the Ark, they marched through fairgrounds and chanted. Police eventually detained them and kept all of their signs, which the activists insist is theft of private property. Joel Keith, who identified himself as the Chief of Police, was wearing a North Carolina Department of Agriculture uniform while they were being detained. When asked why this was, police refused to comment.

After the activists had been removed from the fairgrounds, they remained undeterred and gathered across the street for a theatrical demonstration called Swap Speciesism, where activists enacted a reverse scenario dressed as animals and performed a mock “slaughter” on a human, followed by leafleting.

This protest was part of the Direct Action Everywhere Convergence campaign, with over 130 cities in 27 countries worldwide participating to project the message that animals are not ours to use, and that all animals should be safe, happy, and free.

'The animals exhibited at the State Fair Ark are displayed as the lovable, adorable creatures that they are,' says Jacob Martin, co-organizer for both DxE and Collectively Free, 'But what is being left out of the discussion is that these animals are being exploited for their secretions and murdered for their flesh. We are speaking out on behalf of these animals, by demanding a world where they are not viewed as products.'

'The animal rights movement is growing and strengthening each day, and all over the world we are gathering to speak out against the injustice and violence perpetrated against other species,' says activist Maria-Adriana Rojas. 'We invite all to join this fight to make that vision a reality.'

Throughout the world, some 150 billion animals are killed annually to be eaten. Animals who are killed for their flesh endure intense psychological and physical trauma, and undercover investigations have found that they are routinely eviscerated while still conscious."

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  • Full videos now posted.

    • audience reactions were actually very encouraging in the full version. as you walked there were even a couple of individuals raising their arms in support from what i saw. what i don't quite understand is on what basis they said you had to leave. protesting is constitutional in the usa from what i understand.

      the skit was hilarious as you exposed the typical rationalizations!

      terrific work all round!

      in friendship,

      prad

      • protesting is constitutional in the usa from what i understand.

        Yeah but the weird thing about the US of course is the contradictions in federal and state law... As the NC Dept of Gagriculture police reminded us, we can only protest on public property if we pay for a permit first (yep, you literally have to buy free speech here).

        I asked if the permit would keep us stuck in a designated spot.

        Gag Police: "Yes, that is the law."

        Me: "Adolf Hitler's law."

        Since it is a contradiction of state and federal law, if they did try to press charges it would be a big huge mess and the ACLU would likely get involved and it could go all the way up to supreme court, so usually those charges never come to fruition. But the threat to implement them is there.

  • the crowd at the fair seemed rather dull, but did take notice which i found interesting considering the type of people these fairs attract.

    your group had different people this time i think from those in the whole foods demo. seems like a great organization with depth!

    in friendship,

    prad

    • Yep we actually managed to hand out a bunch of leaflets as we chanted on our way out. We had three people come all the way from South Carolina, they're good friends of ours and it was great to have them with us. Especially Stacey (the first one speaking in that video), since she's a lawyer.

      The cops who detained us were going to get all our ID information and line us up for photographs, but when Stacey handed Joel Keith (the corporate puppet mentioned in the press release) her business card, he changed the order to, "Okay, escort these people out of here!" :p

  • excellent stuff again!

    i presume that was you with bovine head and knife?

    you are developing good acting skills too, i see!

    this convergence is really quite remarkable - it really is everywhere!

    very impressive in organization and coordination.

    in friendship,

    prad

    • Yes and we had 2 newcomers this go round. They did a great job and are excited to continue.

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