Viral stunts. Head-turning protests. Big wins for animals. From New York Fashion Week to the Maine Lobster Festival and beyond, PETA put animal protection front and center.
Discover the fearless actions that sparked debate, dominated headlines, and delivered real results for animals.
Two sky high PETA supporters, body-painted as eye-catching parakeets, perched themselves on tall stilts outside Petco in New York City to expose cruelty PETA uncovered at a breeder in Petco’s supply chain. Shutterstock and Zuma Press were on site to take photos as the eye-catching protest drew attention from passersby.
Animal advocates attended an OHSU board meeting urging an end to monkey experimentation and the transition of the university’s primate research center into a sanctuary. The board approved a resolution supporting a reduction in the monkey colony, while PETA continues pushing for an end to breeding and a timeline for the monkeys’ release.
A nearly nude PETA supporter posed as a “lobster” on a giant plate outside the Maine Lobster Festival, urging attendees to choose vegan food. The action drew large crowds, extensive media coverage (WGME CBS 13, The Maine Wire, and SeaFood Source) and more than 31 million social media views, including 8.7 million on a single Facebook image.
PETA traveled to Midland, Texas, to protest the use of Okha, an elderly elephant forced to give rides at an art fair. The demonstration garnered strong public support and coverage from multiple local news outlets like KTLE, Your Basin, and Big 2 News. PETA supporters also protested in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida at Loomis Bros. Circus to speak out for Okha’s freedom. Check if there is a protest for Okha happening near you by visiting PETA.org/Okha.
PETA supporters disrupted COS’ New York Fashion Week show, demanding that COS and H&M Group stop using wool. While several activists reached the runway, others were blocked and assaulted by Council of Fashion Designers of America CEO Steven Kolb. The action generated widespread coverage from CNN, The New York Times, Vogue, and WWD, and went viral on nearly every corner of the internet. Then, Kolb later resigned as CEO of the council.
After thousands of leaflets were distributed and more than 43,000 supporters contacted the company about mohair cruelty, FAO Schwarz removed all mohair teddy bears from its shelves just hours before a planned PETA demonstration featuring a 10-foot-tall bloody teddy bear, marking a major win for goats.
Proving that you don’t have to wait for PETA’s campaigners to come to your city to participate in a campaign, grassroots animal defenders with Project Animal Freedom in St. Louis, Missouri, protested for parakeets outside of their local Petco store and went inside to show PETA’s investigation and literature to Petco staff.
On Black Friday, PETA supporters will be holding "Free the Animals" Friday demonstrations nationwide to expose the suffering of animals killed for their skins.
Learn more about "Free the Animals" Friday, find an event near you, or plan one of your own with our help!
