PROTESTERS were met with resistance after storming Greggs and clearing it of its customers.

Members of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), a group of animal activists, marched into the busy cafe in London Road, Brighton, holding signs saying “’humane’ murder is a lie” and “it’s not food it’s violence” this afternoon.

They proceeded to deliver speeches about the farming industry and chanted various anti-meat slogans including “meat is murder”.

Some activists were wearing pig masks.

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Greggs customers left and one staff member asked them to leave, but was shunned. 

One member of staff said: “They are not allowed to be here.

“This private property. It’s ridiculous. We were thinking of calling the police.”

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An elderly woman stayed sat in the cafe and said the activists were “uneducated”.

She said: “My daughter studied environmental law and I have done a bit of my own research.

“These people don’t really know what they’re talking about.

“I wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t done some of the tests we have done.

“They need to do a lot more research on the environment before they start acting like this.”

The Argus:

The activists then marched down Gloucester Road and on to New Road, chanting anti-meat industry messages through megaphones.

A DxE spokeswoman said: "We are demanding the abolition of humans using animals, we are fighting to end the horrific oppression animals face in this speciesist world.

"We live in a system that objectifies and commodifies their lives and bodies, that injustice cannot go unchallenged. 

"We are part of the fastest growing social justice movement and we are not slowing down."

They were met with resistance as hecklers walked past them shouting “meat is alive, I love meat”.

The group stood in New Road, opposite Pavilion Gardens, to deliver more speeches.

They threw fake blood over one of the demonstrators lying on the pavement to represent the violence of the meat industry.

Another spokeswoman said: "All this suffering and death is unecessary and cruel. A better world is possible. One where these farms and slaughterhouses do not exist. 

"One where we don't have their blood on our hands. We must fight for them. We stand in solidarity with all animals and we fight for their liberation."

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Molly Holland, 24, living in Brighton, said she failed to understand why the activists were met with resistance.

She said: “I think what they are doing is amazing. I work at Aldi and the amount of meat and milk I have to chuck out is disgusting. It’s disgusting how much we produce purely for human consumption.

READ MORE >> Vegans storm into Starbucks and sausage shop in Brighton 

“Sometimes I am pouring 60 bottles of milk down the drain and it just makes you think what a waste for that poor cow.

“It’s awful because we know we can use plant alternatives.”

Domenico de Letteriis, 30, also watched the protesters in admiration.

He said: “It’s impressive they come out and do this.

“I imagine they all have different jobs, some are nurses, teachers, but they give up their free time to be good people.”

But other onlookers found DxE difficult to comprehend.

Ray Blacksley, 75, from Hove, said he struggled to listen to the activists.

He said: “People and animals have been doing it for thousands of years.

“Are they going to go and tell the lions and tigers not to eat meat?

“I’m afraid they’re a bit like the environmental activists, where that famous actress came from California to join them in London.

“How did she get there? Did she swim?

“They are all hypocrites.

“One of them is probably wearing leather or fur or at least something that’s affected some animals welfare.”

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The group said the protest was inspired by 'Meat the Victims UK' where 100 activists peacefully entered and occupied a standard British pig farm in Lincolnshire.

They occupied the farm for more than six hours and livestreamed living conditions for the sows and piglets.

One spokeswoman said: "More than ten million pigs are slaughtered in Britain each year.

"Pigs that are smarter than dogs and 3 year old human children according to experts, not that one's intelligence determines your right to not be abused.

"All animals are sentient beings and as such deserve our respect and compassion."

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