PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) erected billboards in Sheffield in a statement against Sheffield’s chicken wing festival. 

Sheffield Wing Fest boasts the world’s largest chicken wing festival with an array of DJs, bands, entertainment, axe throwing, games and eating competitions. 

Dawn Carr, PETA Vice President of Vegan Corporate Projects, said: “PETA urges everyone in Yorkshire and beyond to think of the individual behind the wings and try delicious vegan meats instead.”

The billboards feature an image of a chicken and reads: “You can live without chicken wings. I can’t. Please try vegan.” 

The charity launched this emotional appeal in order to dissuade people from attending the festival, urging them to become vegan instead. 

The festival took place between 18 and 20 October in Peddler Market, Kelham Island and also has events in Manchester, London, Bristol, Derby and Norwich. 

The organisation has members worldwide after being founded in the 1980s. It believes that animals should not be used by humans for things such as experimentation, food, clothing and entertainment. 

PETA said: “Around 45,000 intelligent, gentle birds will be killed and cut up so that festival-goers can eat their wings this October.” 

Event-goers are being urged to try vegan instead, with the charity suggesting vegan and plant-based alternatives in Sheffield, such as Church – temple of fun in Kelham Island that has a 100% vegan menu. 

November is World Vegan Month, with PETA urging all supporters to go vegan and make a “compassionate switch” as they say 200 animals are saved a year by every person that goes vegan. 

Read more from PETA here.

Photograph by Timm Cleasby Photography.

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