Animal Rebellion: protesters defend themselves

Protesters from Animal Rebellion have become part of a national conversation after trying to stop the supply of fresh milk around the country since Sunday, September 4.

Members of the group superglued their hands to the top of Muller and Amazon Prime lorries near the Muller Milk and Ingredients site in Hampton Lovett. 

The activist group has been campaigning for a plant-based future since 2019, but has now revealed why they have taken such dramatic actions to get their point across. 

Nathan McGovern, who has been a volunteer for Animal Rebellion for about a year, said: "This is happening after months of trying to negotiate with the government." 

In August, Animal Rebellion warned the government it would take drastic action in September if its needs had not been met. 

The group wants to end animal farming and fishing in order to transition to a sustainable plant-based food system.  

Police bring down protester using a forklift truck (Image: Police bring down protester using a forklift truck)

READ MORE: Dramatic pictures show the animal rights protests affecting Muller Dairy

The 23-year-old added: "We have sent letters to the government and ministers.

"I wrote a letter to Boris Johnson and delivered it and never heard anything back. 

"Looking back in history, the non-violent action has often been the one to mitigate change.

READ MORE: Protesters sit on top of Muller Dairy lorries as protests continue

"It is also the fact that we have a rapidly closing window that you can take action on climate change."  

The Worcester News attended the protest near the Muller dairy site in Droitwich on Tuesday and the lorries occupied by the protesters were empty. 

Mr McGovern said: "The actual stopping of milk lorries wasn't that effective if they were empty, but we've started a national conversation. 

"We've made this a national discussion and we've had comments from three MPs, and though the comments weren't positive, people are still talking about it. 

"We will stop as soon as we are offered a seat at the table. 

"And we will do whatever it non-violently takes. 

"It's a controversial topic to talk about, drilling the trucks of tyres to stop the milk supply getting out or glueing our hands onto gates and roads to stop people going past.

"No human life will be hurt."

Animal Rebellion apologises to the lorry drivers 

Lorry driver Manny Singh near Animal Rebellion protest (Image: Lorry driver Manny Singh near Animal Rebellion protest)

Mr McGovern said: "Disruption has been caused and I do wholeheartedly apologise on the behalf of Animal Rebellion to the people who were inconvenienced and lost a whole day's worth of pay."

"I understand that it's not easy for people to lose a whole day's worth of pay during the cost of living crisis, but the crisis is not caused by Animal Rebellion, we are in this situation because the government has buried their heads in the sand. 

WAITING WORKERS: Ash Charlton, Allen Lewis, Cameron Duggan, Emily Gaskell-Martin and Dave Wilde (Image: WAITING WORKERS: Ash Charlton, Allen Lewis, Cameron Duggan, Emily Gaskell-Martin and Dave Wilde)

"I empathise with the frustration, we do not want to cause this disruption but the government has not taken any action towards our demands. 

"In the past, non-violent civil disobedience has been effective."

The group believe that the inconvenience caused doesn't outweigh the impact the group are trying to make. 

"We want farmers and fishing communities and make plant-based food production. 

"In the past, people who took part in civil disobedience were not popular at the time, but in hindsight, we compare them to heroes.

"We're not trying to compare our struggles to anyone else's and we're not saying that we are heroes either. 

"This is an act of love and compassion for all living beings on earth. 

"We have done letters, marches, petitions and tried everything but political inaction has led us to this. 

"It's difficult for the lorry drivers and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Animal Rebellion on reducing its carbon footprint

Some of the protesters were spotted using single-use plastic during the protest which seemed to annoy spectators. 

Police use a cherry picker to negotiate with protesters on top of a lorry at Milk (Image: Police use a cherry picker to negotiate with protesters on top of a lorry at Milk)

Mr McGovern said: "We are all products of society and we can only live in our means, not using single-use plastic is not accessible for everyone. 

"I try to reduce my carbon footprint and make good decisions for the environment, but it shouldn't be up to the individual to make these changes."