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Animal Rising (formerly Animal Rebellion) is a British animal activist movement with the stated aim of compelling social change towards
animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have Moral patienthood, moral worth independent of their Utilitarianism, utility to humans, and that their most basic interests—such as ...
and a plant-based food system. They justify their actions with the impact of animal agriculture on climate change,
species extinction Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its last member. A taxon may become functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to reproduce and recover. As a species' potential range may be ...
and ecosystem breakdown. Animal Rising use
civil disobedience Civil disobedience is the active and professed refusal of a citizenship, citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders, or commands of a government (or any other authority). By some definitions, civil disobedience has to be nonviolent to be cal ...
methods that have frequently resulted in its members being arrested. Their methods include graffiti, destruction of property, blockading and preventing food distribution, trespassing onto livestock industry premises, and blockading streets. The movement states on its website that it is
nonviolent Nonviolence is the personal practice of not causing harm to others under any condition. It may come from the belief that hurting people, animals and/or the environment is unnecessary to achieve an outcome and it may refer to a general philosoph ...
and focuses its actions on systems, not individuals. The targets of their actions have included dairy and other livestock companies, horse racing courses, the British royal family, government offices, supermarkets, and restaurants. The organisation was founded in June 2019 as Animal Rebellion, as a sister organisation to
Extinction Rebellion Extinction Rebellion (abbreviated as XR) is a UK-founded global environmental movement, with the stated aim of using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping points in the climate system, biodiversity loss, and ...
, an emerging and headline-making movement at the time. It had 12 founding members, including Daniel Kidby, Dora Hargitai, and Alex Lockwood, and by autumn 2019 grew to a size of 100 organisers. In April 2023, Animal Rebellion changed its name to Animal Rising to take a "firm" step away from the
Extinction Rebellion Extinction Rebellion (abbreviated as XR) is a UK-founded global environmental movement, with the stated aim of using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping points in the climate system, biodiversity loss, and ...
movement and prioritize animal rights issues."Grand National 2023: Hundreds of animal activists to disrupt race at Aintree"
independent.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
Animal Rising pledged to "take direct action to see an end to
animal suffering Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction of suffering or harm by humans upon animals, either by omission (neglect) or by commission. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffe ...
in all its forms"."More than 100 animal rights activists arrested after Grand National protests"
theguardian.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.


Demands

As of early 2023, Animal Rebellion made two demands of the United Kingdom government:


Protests


2019-20: Extinction Rebellion protests and abattoir blockades

From 7 October to 19 October 2019, Animal Rebellion organised a wave of civil disobedience in London and Berlin, in parallel to Extinction Rebellion protests. Animal Rebellion protested in front of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture, at Smithfield meat market, the largest UK meat market, and
Billingsgate Fish Market Billingsgate Fish Market is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east corner of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established. In its original locati ...
, and at an abattoir in
Farnborough, Hampshire Farnborough is a town located in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It has a population of around 57,486 as of the 2011 census and is an important centre of aviation, engineering and technology. The town is probably best known for it ...
, leading to several dozen arrests for obstruction of traffic and "obstruction or disruption of a person engaged in lawful activity". They reported that the abattoir protest was to highlight the role the farming industry plays in the
climate crisis ''Climate crisis'' is a term that is used to describe global warming and climate change and their effects. This term and the term ''climate emergency'' have been used to emphasize the threat of global warming to Earth's natural environment an ...
, as well as animal welfare issues and the conditions for abattoir workers. In 2020, Animal Rebellion staged protests in the UK,
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
and the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
in September. This included the blockade of a pig slaughterhouse near Manchester, England. In
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, they vandalised the
Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...
fountain by dying the water red, resulting in two arrests and a bill for the council to clean the water. This was to protest the use of crown lands for hunting and animal agriculture, as well as the Queen's attempts to have her land exempted from an initiative to cut carbon emissions. In October, Animal Rebellion protested in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
(
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
) and
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
(
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
).


2021: Meat and dairy factory blockades

Animal Rebellion protesters blocked the entrance of a
Tnuva Tnuva, or Tenuvah, (, ''fruit'' or ''produce'') is an Israeli food creation and marketing company. The company holds in Israel a significant market share in the field of drinking milk production, dairy products and its marketing. It was for its ...
dairy logistics centre in
Petah Tikva Petah Tikva (, ), also spelt Petah Tiqwa and known informally as Em HaMoshavot (), is a city in the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv. It was founded in 1878, mainly by Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jews of the Old Y ...
, Israel, in February 2021. Similarly, Animal Rebellion blocked the entrances of four
McDonald's McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...
UK distribution centres in May 2021, demanding the fast-food chain go entirely plant-based by 2025. An Animal Rebellion spokesperson said that what others call sustainable meat is insufficient to mitigate the
climate crisis ''Climate crisis'' is a term that is used to describe global warming and climate change and their effects. This term and the term ''climate emergency'' have been used to emphasize the threat of global warming to Earth's natural environment an ...
. Continuing their attack on McDonald's, the group blocked the entrance to the OSI Food Solutions factory in
Scunthorpe Scunthorpe () is an industrial town in Lincolnshire, England, and the county's third most populous settlement after Lincoln, England, Lincoln and Grimsby, with a population of 81,286 in 2021. It is the administrative centre and largest settleme ...
, England in July 2021. The factory is the "only UK factory that makes McDonald’s burgers", Animal Rebellion stated. Like the protest in May, they demanded the chain change their menu to entirely plant-based food by 2025. On 28 August 2021, they coordinated a protest with
Camp Beagle Camp Beagle is an ongoing protest camp set up in June 2021 by animal rights activists outside of MBR Acres, a breeding facility for beagles used in laboratory research, in Wyton, Cambridgeshire. As of May 2024, It is the longest-lasting protest ...
at
Smithfield Market Smithfield, properly known as West Smithfield, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly Wards of the City of London, ward of the City of London, England. Smithfield is home to a number of City in ...
in London. During that month, they also held a "McSitin" at Leicester Square, dyed the fountain in front of Buckingham Palace red and blocked the trucks of
Arla Arla may refer to: * ''Arla'' (moth), a genus of moth * Arkansas Library Association * Arla, Greece, a village * Ärla, a village in south-eastern Sweden * Arla Foods, a large Scandinavian producer of dairy products ** Arla (Finland), a subsid ...
's biggest UK dairy processing plant which is in Aylesbury. During the annual UN Climate Change conference COP26 in October 2021, Animal Rebellion protesters climbed the
Home Office building The Home Office Building is located adjacent to Military Park at 10 Park Place in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The building was built in 1928 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1982. Th ...
.


2022: Dairy dumping

On 2 June 2022, Animal Rebellion in London disrupted the
trooping the colour Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial event performed every year on Horse Guards Parade in London, United Kingdom, by regiments of Household Division, to celebrate the King's Official Birthday, official birthday of the British sovereign, though t ...
parade, running into the Mall and throwing themselves in front of the procession, in a renewed protest against the royal family's support of animal agriculture. Two days later, six female protesters ran onto the course of the
Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, more commonly known as the Derby and sometimes referred to as the Epsom Derby, is a Group races, Group 1 flat Horse racing, horse race in England open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Ep ...
horse race before its start. The action was on the anniversary of
Emily Davison Emily Wilding Davison (11 October 1872 – 8 June 1913) was an English suffragette who fought for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, votes for women in Britain in the early twentieth century. A member of the Women's Social and Polit ...
's famous
suffragette A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...
protest at the same derby 109 years earlier. In both cases, the activists were removed by police officers and were arrested. On 8 August 2022, the protesters stormed the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales which promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest a ...
(RSPCA), and occupied the national headquarters. They refused to leave the building, blocking the front doors and hosting impromptu workshops until the RSPCA agreed to declare its support for transitioning to a fully plant-based food system. In June 2022, a group of protesters stormed
Harrods Harrods is a Listed building, Grade II listed luxury department store on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, England. It was designed by C. W. Stephens for Charles Digby Harrod, and opened in 1905; it replaced the first store on the ground ...
and another store in London. They took cartons of milk and emptied them in the stores. In early September 2022, Animal Rebellion declared it would disrupt dairy supplies during September. On 3 September, activists blocked access to milk at supermarkets in four cities. On 4 September, activists disrupted fresh milk supplies at four
Müller Müller may refer to: Companies * Müller (company), a German multinational dairy company ** Müller Milk & Ingredients, a UK subsidiary of the German company * Müller (store), a German retail chain * GMD Müller, a Swiss aerial lift manufacturi ...
and Arla distribution centres. In mid-October 2022, activists from Animal Rebellion held protests by pouring milk on the floor in various stores and supermarkets across Britain, including
Harrods Harrods is a Listed building, Grade II listed luxury department store on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, England. It was designed by C. W. Stephens for Charles Digby Harrod, and opened in 1905; it replaced the first store on the ground ...
,
Marks and Spencer Marks and Spencer plc (commonly abbreviated to M&S and colloquially known as Marks & Sparks or simply Marks) is a major British multinational retailer based in London, England, that specialises in selling clothing, beauty products, home produc ...
,
Waitrose Waitrose Limited, trading as Waitrose & Partners, is a British supermarket chain, founded in 1904 as Waite, Rose & Taylor, later shortened to Waitrose. In 1937, it was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership, the UK's largest employee-owned b ...
and
Fortnum & Mason Fortnum & Mason plc (colloquially often shortened to just Fortnum's) is an Luxury goods, upmarket department store in London, England. The main store is located at 181 Piccadilly in the St James's area of London, where it was established in 1707 ...
. In November 2022, Animal Rebellion members joined
Just Stop Oil Just Stop Oil (JSO) was a British environmental activist group primarily focused on the issue of Climate change, human-caused climate change. The group aimed to force the British government to commit to ending new Energy in the United Kingdom, f ...
in a protest on the
M25 motorway The M25 or London Orbital Motorway is a major ring road encircling most of Greater London. The motorway is one of the most important roads in the UK and one of the busiest. Margaret Thatcher opened the final section in 1986, making the M25 th ...
in the UK. Also in November 2022, they occupied
Gordon Ramsay Gordon James Ramsay (; born ) is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and writer. His restaurant group, List of restaurants owned or operated by Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has ...
's three-star Michelin restaurant in Chelsea, London.


2023-24: Attempted horse race blockades and halt on direct action

On 14 February 2023, Animal Rebellion blocked London's Westminster Bridge in a Valentine's Day protest. This led to the arrest of five Animal Rebellion protesters. One additional person was arrested for bodily assaulting the protesters. In early April 2023, it was revealed that Animal Rebellion planned to disrupt the
2023 Grand National The 2023 Grand National (officially known as the Randox Health, Randox 2023 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 175th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday 15 April 2023, at Aintree Racecourse ne ...
horse race at
Aintree Racecourse Aintree Racecourse is a horse racing, racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England, near to Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase, which takes place annually in April over three da ...
. Animal Rebellion then renamed itself Animal Rising. On April 15, Animal Rising blocked the Grand National at Aintree. They delayed the race by 15 minutes, leading to the arrest of 118 activists for delaying the race and for public order offences. A spokesman for
Aintree Racecourse Aintree Racecourse is a horse racing, racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England, near to Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase, which takes place annually in April over three da ...
stated that "their actions could endanger the horses they purport to protect, as well as jockeys, officials and themselves". The next day, trainer Sandy Thomson told the BBC that the 14-minute delay caused by protesters was to blame for the death of racehorse Hill Sixteen. However, the
British Horseracing Authority The British Horseracing Authority, also known as the BHA, is the regulatory authority for horse racing in Great Britain. It was formed on 31 July 2007, after the merger of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the Horseracing Regulatory Au ...
, which condemned the protests, could not find a "direct parallel" between the delay caused by the protests and Hill Sixteen's death. Animal Rising spokesman Ben Newman argued that the protests were meant to stop the race to prevent the deaths of horses, and to start a dialogue about our broken relationship with animals. He also stated that the public does not blame the group for the horse's death. Following Hill Sixteen's death, the
RSPCA The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales which promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest a ...
called for reforming the size of the field, noting that only 17 of the 39 horses completed the race that day. Animal Rising stated they planned to target other major horse racing events. The group attempted to disrupt that year's
Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, more commonly known as the Derby and sometimes referred to as the Epsom Derby, is a Group races, Group 1 flat Horse racing, horse race in England open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Ep ...
but failed, with only a single individual making it onto the track before being removed without impacting the races. Plans to disrupt the
Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...
were abandoned by the group. In April 2024, the group stated it wouldn't attempt to disrupt the
2024 Grand National The 2024 Grand National (officially known as the Randox 2024 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 176th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday 13 April 2024, at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, E ...
, and that it would be indefinitely suspending similar actions. In June 2024, protestors attached posters depicting Wallace, of ''
Wallace and Gromit ''Wallace & Gromit'' is a British claymation comedy media franchise, franchise created by Nick Park and produced by Aardman Animations. The series centres on Wallace, a good-natured, eccentric, cheese-loving bachelor inventor, and Gromit, his ...
'', with a caption, to the glass case of a recently unveiled portrait of King Charles III in protest against the conditions in " assured farms" accredited by the
RSPCA The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales which promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest a ...
, of which the King is a patron.


References


External links

* {{Animal rights, state=uncollapsed, movement 2019 establishments in the United Kingdom 2019 protests 2020 protests British animal rights organizations Civil disobedience in the United Kingdom Direct action Environmental organisations based in the United Kingdom Extinction Rebellion Organisations based in London Veganism in the United Kingdom Vegan organizations