Police called as vegan activists storm Brighton Starbucks in dairy protest

Protesters in Starbucks, Brighton (Photograph: DxE Brighton)

DxE Brighton activists walked into Starbucks coffee shop holding signs with messages like 'watch Dairy is Scary on YouTube' and 'you are not a baby cow' on Sunday (February 24).

The move was against 'Februdairy', a campaign by the dairy industry to promote its products after 'Veganuary' in January.

Activists said police were called and after half an hour the protest moved outside.

One of the female activists who attended said: "As someone who cares about women's rights, once I learnt about the realities of the dairy industry and how dairy cows reproductive systems are exploited and abused, how babies are taken from their mothers and how female dairy calves are destined for a life of forced impregnation, it became very clear to me that dairy is a feminist issue."

DxE Brighton members then left Starbucks and lined the street outside 'Brighton Sausage Co'.

One of DxE Brighton's organisers said: "The truth is the dairy industry is incredibly cruel and most people have no idea how much suffering and death is involved. 21,000,000 dairy calves are slaughtered for veal or cheap beef every year! Hopefully more people will think twice about who suffered for the milk and cheese they are buying after today."

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "At 1.10pm on Sunday (24 February) police were called to the Starbucks in Jubilee Street in Brighton, where around 12 people were taking part in a vegan protest.

"The group left at around 2pm. There were no arrests."