FARM's Feed-Ins for Peace Goes Bi-Coastal!

In Washington, DC and San Francisco on Saturday, March 19th, FARM celebrated the 27th observance of Meatout with thousands of peace and social justice activists marching against illegal wars, spreading the message that nonviolence begins on our plates! The biggest hit was the free food -- protesters were able to sample some of the best meat, dairy and egg alternatives on the market, including Primal Strips and sandwiches made with Tofurky and Vegenaise.


In DC, Meatout volunteers staffed two Meatout information tables located by the transit stations closest to the rally point, distributing vegan food samples alongside handouts that promote a culture of peace and non-violence. Leafleters went into the rally, distributing FARM's "Live Vegan" handouts and "Peace" cards, as well as FARM Underground's "Dark Side of Dairy and Eggs" handouts. Large signs and banners, which carried the message of a non-violent vegan diet far and wide, were seen at the tables and throughout the rally and march.


In San Francisco, FARM partnered with In Defense of Animals (IDA) to hold the west coast's first-ever Meatout Feed-In for Peace. Even though the protest was met with heavy rain and wind, FARM and IDA braved the weather and managed to distribute nearly all of the 1,200 sandwiches in addition to hundreds of our new 'Live Vegan' brochures, 'Meatout Mondays' recipe handouts, or other outreach materials.

After the rally ended and the rain had slowed, activists took the remaining couple-hundred sandwiches to San Francisco's historic Haight-Ashbury district and gave them to tourists and college students, urging them too to add peace, love, and understanding to their diets.


Thanks to generous food donors and helpful volunteers, FARM distributed 2,200 Tofurky half sandwiches and over 150 vegan jerky Primal Strips! The events were extremely well-received by long time vegans and curious passerby alike, who were thrilled to see the Meatout message and to learn delicious alternatives to animal products.

One attendee approached FARM activists to state that he met us two years ago at a Meatout event and, after receiving information and vegan food samples, had gone vegetarian and is happily on his way to a vegan lifestyle. Of course, there are always a few naysayers...but in the end, Meatout volunteers convinced most of them with delicious food.

Huge thanks to the dedicated volunteers who made sandwiches and joined FARM at the bi-coastal events! Open the Cages Alliance, Vegetarian Society of DC, A Well Fed World and In Defense of Animals helped make this year's observance of Meatout in Washington, DC and San Francisco a success! Meatout demonstrated that a true culture of non-violence extends our circle of compassion to include animals, the world's poor, and the planet.