SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Animal rights activists are arrested after chaining themselves to San Diego City Hall, calling for council members to take action. Police waited almost an hour for protesters to clear out, but they wouldn’t leave.
Protesters quietly sat in front of the doors to city hall, preventing anyone from coming in or out. They want local leaders to copy the city of Berkeley in passing a law that allows activists to rescue animals in distress, like cows and chickens, from slaughterhouses.
“It’s a big step to stop everyone to stop eating animals, so they’re not going quite that far,” says one demonstrator. “But what they’re trying to do is at least give those animals the right to be rescued.”
San Diego Police arrived on scene and tried negotiating with the chained protesters to get them to leave. After 45 minutes, San Diego Fire-Rescue and other resources came in. The chains were cut and the protesters were taken into custody.
“We want to make sure that everyone involved is safe and that no laws are broken,” says Capt. Mike Holden with SDPD. “In this case, we gave plenty of notice, and unfortunately, we had to effect for arrest.”
Police say it is permissible to protest on the property but it is against the law to impede the flow of business.
Shortly after the arrests, those who were not taken into custody held a rally outside City Hall. Organizers would like for San Diego leaders to implement rules locally that will endorse Rose’s law, which is an animal bill of rights.
Rose’s law extends the rights of animals, like those found on a farm, to free, not owned; to not be exploited, abused or killed by humans; to have their rights represented in court; and the right to be free.
City leaders are currently not taking up the issue.
