Topless activists protest veterinarians' fish toss

[undeterred]

By JOEL MORENO AND KOMO-TV STAFF

A fish flap unfolded in Seattle Saturday as group of half-naked animal-rights activists dressed like fish took on a national veterinarians' group that's meeting in Seattle. The activists -- members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- wanted the vets to cancel a salmon-tossing exhibition by the popular Pike Place Market fishmongers.

The protesters even offered to buy fake rubber fish for the famous fish throwers to use at the annual convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association. But when the veterinarians declined to cancel the event, the activists staged a protest on the sidewalk outside their convention.

Demonstrators donned fish-tails and shimmery paint to call attention to what they say is the vet group's disrespect for marine life. Some lay topless on the sidewalk and others carried signs that said things like "Gutted Alive."

"The AVMA should be siding with animals, not animal abusers," says PETA'S Ashley Byrne. Instead, she said, "The AVMA has decided to support an industry that guts animals alive, that pulls them from the depths of the ocean so their organs explode."

The veterinarians group said they considered PETA's request, but ultimately decided against it. Spokesman David Kirkpatrick says the event was not disrespectful to fish.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/408041_peta11.html




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