Eight charged after McDonald’s entrance was blocked by protesters wanting chain to go fully vegan
Eight vegan activists have been charged with aggravated trespass following a blockade of a McDonald’s distribution centre on Saturday.
The charges relate to a protest outside the Basingstoke facility – one of a number of events targeting the fast food giant across the UK this weekend.
Animal Rebellion used vehicles and bamboo structures to prevent lorries from leaving depots in Hemel Hempstead, Basingstoke, Coventry and Heywood in Greater Manchester.
The group wants McDonald’s to commit to becoming fully plant-based by 2025 as a way of easing the climate crisis and protecting animal welfare.
Jennifer D’Netto, 51, of Malvern Wells, Worcestershire; Kiera Ilett-Jones, 24, from Beckenham, Kent; and Elizabeth Flynn, 32, Rose Patterson, 31, and Adam Haigh, 21, all of no fixed address, have been released on conditional bail to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on June 8.
Sidney Davies, 21, from Bristol, and Bethany Croakin, 25, and Jasmine Maslen, 18, both of no fixed address have also been bailed to appear at the same court on June 10.
They were charged with aggravated trespass as well as ‘watching or besetting a house or place to compel the abstention or doing of a lawful act.
Chief inspector Matt Reeves said: ‘Everyone has the right to free speech and protest, however, officers will take necessary action against the few who deliberately choose to act outside the law.’
Six people were also arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, criminal damage and intimidating behaviour.
Animal Rebellion spokesman James Ozden said protests at Coventry and Heywood ended voluntarily at 10am and 4am on Sunday, respectively.
The protest at Hemel Hempstead was cleared by police at around 3am while the Basingstoke demonstration ended at about 2am.
Mr Ozden said around 100 people took part in the protests and claimed the action disrupted an estimated 1,900 lorries.
He said that the action was aimed at criticising the animal agriculture industry for its part in the global climate crisis.
A McDonald’s UK spokesman said on Sunday that its distribution centres had reopened and were back in service delivering to its restaurants.
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