protests/demos-

A demonstration is a perfect way to express outrage towards an establishment or company that profits from farmed animal exploitation! Highlighting a company's treatment of or policies regarding animals raises public awareness about the inherent cruelties in raising animals for food.  It can also generate a lot of negative publicity for your target, if well thought-out.

When planning your protest, be sure to read up on local ordinances regarding the size, location, timing, and noise levels of protests. Depending on local laws, you may need one or more permits. If you are not planning to engage in civil disobedience then remember to stay on public property.

Determine your place and time-This is important because the location and timing affects the amount of people reached.  It is more “news worthy” if a demonstration is in reaction to a mainstream news item, such as swine flu or large meat/dairy recalls, etc.  For example, in the wake of the largest beef recall in U.S. history, FARM staged a protest outside the USDA demanding that USDA recall ALL animal products because they all come from sick, abused and exploited individuals. 

Location:  Good locations for protests and demonstrations are: slaughterhouses, fast food chains, or business offices of meat/dairy/egg industry companies. The more foot and car traffic the better!

Also, you can hold animal agribusiness accountable by organizing a protest at one of the industry offices in your area. By naming and shaming animal agrisbusiness for their indefensable acts, lies and public manipulation, you can turn the tables and force industries to be held publicly accountable for their deeds. FARM Underground will send press releases out for your event, so make sure to register your protest and email us!

Time: Depending on the location you choose to protest or demonstrate at, the time may vary.  For instance, if you plan to protest at an office, then early morning or lunch time would be the best time.  If you are protesting at a fast food chain, lunch or dinner rush would be better to maximize the impact the protest or demonstration has on the establishment and it's patrons.  

Request a permit (if needed based on anticipated numbers) - You can request permits from the city or county where the protest is being held. Generally, if you expect more than 25 people for a legal protest or demonstration (not civil disobedience), you will need a permit.  The number varies from state to state, and county to county, so check your local laws and ordinances.  

Reach out to local veg- and animal-friendly groups to gather participants - Good places for outreach are local email listservs, animal rights/vegan meet-ups on Meetup.com, local indymedia sites, and social networking sites, such as Facebook or Myspace (as bulletins or events).  This also helps with estimating the number of participants. 

Please TAKE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS of your activities and send copies to FARM Underground!

Photos: high resolution jpgs by email are best

Videos: e-mail a link for an uploaded video on Youtube or equivalent site.  Videos are great ways to inspire people to take action for farmed animals and also get more people for your event.