Activists stage Easter protest in meat aisle of Bristol supermarket

Animal Rebellion supporters staged a protest in the meat aisle of a Bristol supermarket on what the group says is its last day of action.

The 12 activists occupied the meat aisle at Sainsbury’s in Clifton Down Shopping Centre for an hour on Good Friday afternoon.

It was part of a national protest with similar actions taking place in Exeter, Nottingham, Newcastle, Canterbury and Leeds.

In Bristol, activists blocked both ends of Sainsbury’s large meat aisle, holding hand-made signs. Some signs included messages such as “Nation of ‘animal lovers’ kills one billion land animals for food each year”.

Bristol-based early years practitioner, Daniel Juniper, 28, said: “As a nation of animal lovers, we really have to question why we continue to celebrate big holidays with outdated traditions, such as eating newborn baby lambs at Easter while simultaneously feeling affection towards these lovely animals.

“Given that the science also shows that an urgent shift towards a universal plant-based diet is mandatory to offset catastrophic climate breakdown, we really must act quickly to move towards a sustainable plant-based food system that is kinder to the earth and all beings.”

The activists have said this will be the last day of action as Animal Rebellion ahead of a new direction for the group, relaunching with a plan to disrupt the Grand National.