Removal of Jesus College’s Cockerel Statue Prompts PETA Appeal For Chicken-Free Dining Halls

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Calum Proctor 020 7837 6327, ext 229; [email protected]

REMOVAL OF JESUS COLLEGE’S COCKEREL STATUE PROMPTS PETA APPEAL FOR CHICKEN-FREE DINING HALLS
Group Urges College to Learn From the Mistakes of the Past and Stand Up Against All Forms of Oppression Today

Cambridge – Following reports that Jesus College recently elected to repatriate a bronze cockerel statue to Africa because of claims that it had been stolen during a 19th century raid, PETA have sent a letter to the president of the student union calling on the college to take a stand against  oppression – past and present – by removing all chicken from the school’s dining halls.

“While it’s right to look back on less enlightened times when racism, bigotry and other forms of prejudice resulted in immoral actions and behaviour, failing to examine our present treatment of those we see as’different’ puts at risk our society’s moral evolution”, writes PETA Associate Director Elisa Allen. “Our challenge as a society is to put history’s lessons to work today. Jesus College has a great opportunity to set the standard for future generations by rejecting the cruel killing of sentient beings for a fleeting moment of taste.”

In the letter, PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat” – further notes that chickens are arguably the most abused animals in Britain. Bred to grow so large so quickly that their legs often collapse under the weight of their oversized bodies, millions of chickens every year are shackled upside down and have their throats slit, often while they are still conscious.

PETA are also offering to provide the college with samples of delicious vegan chicken for its dining halls.

PETA’s letter to Jesus College is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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