PETA Activists Seek Roadside Memorial for 700 'Terrified Turkeys' Dead in Utah Truck Crash: 'Try Vegan' Sign Unlikely to Pass, Says Department of Transportation
Animal activists want to display a memorial roadside for 700 turkeys that died in a truck crash in Utah on April 24. Activists claim such honor is necessary for the "terrified turkeys" that had to experience the crash.
The request to display a memorial for deceased animals might be ridiculous to some, but Laura Cascada, the spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, believes that the low survival rate of said turkeys (only about two dozen survived) is enough reason to honor the animals with a simple sign.
The crash occurred in the small town of Wallsburg, where a truck hauling about 700 live turkeys crashed through a guard trail.
The sign -- which has been stated by authorities to be unlikely to be approved -- would be placed underneath a standard Utah traffic sign that says "Drive Safely. Buckle Up". The sign itself would say, "In memory of the hundreds of terrified turkeys who died here in a truck crash. Try vegan," and an image of a turkey would be also be featured.
PETA filed their request under the Utah Department of Transportation on Wednesday. Transportation spokesman John Gleason stated that such a proposal is highly unlikely to be passed.
"The purpose of the roadside memorial is to meet the needs of grieving family members," Gleason said. "It's specific to people who have lost their lives on Utah roads and would not cover animals."
PETA has been known for its radical opinions on animal rights since its start in 1980. Most recently, the group targeted actor Liam Neeson for his support of the horse drawn carriage system in New York City. PETA protested against the system by picketing outside Neeson's apartment with signs saying, "Liam Neeson: Stop Supporting Cruelty".
The activist group will most likely not win the battle with the Department of Transportation. Cascade said that PETA has filled applications for memorials in several states, including cows in New York and chickens in Georgia, but none of the applications have been approved so far.
Do you find PETA's request for memorials for deceased animals to be ridiculous?
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