Now a third restaurant in just a few weeks has been the target of an animal rights group. After a surprise visit to Joe Beef and an anonymous letter left in Manitoba, Vin Mon Lapin also received a handwritten letter denouncing his involvement in a poultry slaughterhouse project. What is the objective behind this declared war on carnivores?
First, here’s a quick review of the events.
It all started on Saturday January 11th when a dozen people, armed with signs, burst into Joe Beef chanting slogans such as "Meat is not food, it is violence ". This event, broadcast live on Facebook, was organized by the group Direct Action Everywhere.
In fact, restaurant owner David McMillan said that the demonstration, although in the rush hour of Saturday evening, was brief and hassle-free.
Things then took a different turn in the past week.
Vandalism was first committed on the Manitoba restaurant lock on the evening of January 19, preventing employees from entering the premises on Monday morning. They found a message in the mailbox denouncing the participation of chef Simon Mathys in a slaughterhouse project for artisanal poultry producers.
Finally, the last deplorable event to happen occurred at Vin Mon Lapin as recently as January 23. Once again, glue was placed on the restaurant locks and a missive, left in the mailbox, directly attacked the team's involvement in the small-scale slaughterhouse project, the same as that of the Manitoba.
Thus, the objective of these activists is to denounce the consumption of meat and the death of animals.
We also understand that the first event was organized and claimed by a group. However, the actions of the past few days in Manitoba and at Vin Mon Lapin have not been claimed, and the perpetrators still act on condition of anonymity.
These three targeted restaurants are doing their fair share by sourcing from local suppliers and producers.
The owners and their manager are trying to find alternatives to mega-producers, the real problem according to them, the best proof being their involvement in the Petit abattoir project.
They often reflect on the consumption of meat and on the environmental side and would have preferred to enter into a dialogue with these activists rather than suffer from this intimidation and be the victim of this arrogance.
Also, these restaurants are small businesses managed by dedicated and involved owners, who give work to dozens of employees and who make the pride of our gastronomy while talking about them and their city around the world. planet.
They do not have the same powers as the big chains that have a global presence and yet they are trying to change the way they do it their way.
And they were all the same targeted by these attacks!
Do you believe that these activists, who undoubtedly defend a highly defensible cause, have the right targets in their sights?
In the second case, are we dealing with a real denunciation in favor of vegetarianism and the defense of animals or rather a settlement of accounts?