100 activists turnout for DC's first ever die-in for farmed animals!

A rainy morning did not deter 100 activists from North Carolina to New York and all states in between from gathering in the nation's capital in honor of DC's first ever farmed animal die-in.

The die-in took place outside the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to protest the lack of enforcement for the Humane Slaughter Act and the selling out of the nation's health to the meat and dairy industries.

Die-ins are a visually powerful and symbolic form of protest. They have traditionally been used to protest nuclear proliferation. More recently, they have been used to protest the war on Iraq. Taking cues from our European allies, World Farm Animals Day die-ins take a stand for animals (not just people). The tragedy of war is recognized and mourned, but the suffering farmed animals endure is invisible and denied. World Farm Animals Day is a stand against this denial, educating the public about the reality of factory farm and slaughterhouse atrocities and offering healthy, compassionate options.

During the DC die-in, graphic signs explained the protest, PETA's larger-than-life chicken helped draw more attention, PETA's Meet Your Meat video played for people brave enough to witness actual slaughter practices, and leafleters handed out free Vegetarian Starter Guides to curious onlookers.

A black "liberty" bell tolled to represent 10,000 farmed animals slaughtered every 30 seconds in the US alone. The bell tolled 55 times to represent the 55 billion farmed animals slaughtered worldwide each year. Each participant represented 100,000,000 farmed animals slaughtered in the US each year. (Yes, that's 100,000,000 each... 10,000,000,000 total in the US annually.)

Of special interest was the bus of North Dakota Farmers who happened to pass by. They stopped to take photos and get a great story to take home.

The DC World Farm Animals Day Die-In was a great success because of the outstanding support from our sponsoring organizations:

FARM would like to give special thanks to PETA, Compassion Over Killing, Vegetarian Society of DC, and Baltimore Animal Rights Coaltion. Thanks also for the post-event vegan snacks provided by Java Green Cafe and Sticky Fingers Bakery.

Like the shirts? Get your own black "Stop the Slaughter" t-shirt in honor of World Farm Animals Day for only $12 (limited sizes available now). membership--at--farmusa.org?subject=WFAD%20Tshirts or call 800-632-8688.

Click here for information on staging a die-in.