They carried signs with the slogan “Did your food have a face?” and repeated slogans through a megaphone to encourage diners to stop eating

Many people had taken advantage of this Sunday to go out to dinner in Subiaco, a popular town on the outskirts of Perth, in southwestern Australia. A part of them chose Lapa Brazilian BBQ, a place specializing in barbecue and roast meats. What they were not expecting is that they were going to be the target of a group of vegans who organized a live protest.

The protesters belong to the group ‘Direct action’ and entered the restaurant carrying signs that had written a slogan: “Did your food have a face?” At the same time, one of those responsible for the group explained, through a megaphone, the process that the animals go through when they arrive at the slaughterhouse, while shouting some slogans such as “It is not food, it is violence. Human slaughter is a lie”.

One of the protesters shouted at the restaurant’s customers that the animals “spend their entire lives inside factory farms to satisfy the pleasure of your palate for a few minutes.” Another asked diners “how can you keep putting these animal parts in your mouth without feeling it stick to your throat?”

Live broadcast

The protesters were only able to access the restaurant as they had made a reservation for ten people. According to the regulations that govern Australia to fight the coronavirus, a restaurant can only be accessed if you have a reservation for lunch or dinner. However, once inside, they began their protest while the rest of the customers went about their business and tried to stay out of it.

Followers of this group on social media have applauded the activists’ performance: “Thank you for speaking on behalf of those who have no voice. The restaurant’s customers were undoubtedly uncomfortable and, although their initial reaction may have been to denial, I bet they went home thinking about it, talking about it, and deep down, some of them might start to see reality.”

The members of Direct Action, without wearing masks, broadcast their demonstration live through their Facebook page. At one point, a restaurant worker asked the group to leave because they were “ruining all the customers ‘dinner.” Finally, and after the megaphone was taken from them, the activists left the premises, before the police reached the restaurant.