Why is VegWorcester giving away free vegan donuts this Wednesday? [Feed-in Event]
Start your Wednesday morning off right with a free vegan donut.
This Wednesday morning at 9am, join VegWorcester and Compassion Over Killing for a vegan feed-in outside of one the Dunkin’ Donuts location in downtown Worcester, the corner of Main St & Pleasant St.
From 9am to 10am we’ll be handing out free samples of vegan donuts and baked goods, while urging Worcesterites to ask Dunkin’ Donuts to offer egg- and dairy-free donuts.
Leave a comment here or email drew@VegWorcester.com if you want to help out.
Why Dunkin’ Donuts?
In August 2009, Compassion Over Killing went undercover and gathered video footage at Michael Foods, the factory-farming company that supplies DD with their eggs. This is what C.O.K. investigators found:
- Hens immobilized in the wires of their cages, unable to access food or water.
- Decomposing and “mummified” corpses left in cages with live birds.
- Birds suffering from overcrowding, severe feather loss, and untreated injuries.
At the Wednesday vegan feed-in, we’ll be distributing information about Compassion Over Killing’s Dunkin’ Cruelty campaign along with yummy vegan baked goods.
What are those details?
Where: In front of Dunkin’ Donuts at 421 Main St., Worcester, MA (map)
When: Wed., Jan. 27 from 9am to 10am.
Why: Donuts!
January 26, 2010
Tags: baked goods, coffee, deep fried goodness, donuts, Dunkin' Donuts, Vegan Feed-in, Worcester Posted in: Activism, Events, Misc, Veg Advocacy
11 Responses
OOO, I work/live a block from there. I may need to stop by..
I video taped some of this. The only good footage is of Drew not cooperating with a cop, but I can’t use it because the cop wouldn’t give me permission.
Nick, thanks for being there to video tape. But I disagree with you about my interaction with the police officer who stopped by. I cooperated with the officer more than enough. Throughout our interaction, I was polite and perfectly cordial.
In fact, I think I even cooperated too much. We were not doing anything wrong, just exercising our right to free speech to encourage people to choose compassion and try veganism.
There was no reason for the police officer to ask for my contact info, but I obliged anyway. In MA you not required to offer your ID to any officer unless you are under arrest. I should have said no more than, “Officer, am I under arrest or free to leave?” I did give him my ID, but I was not required to under law.
Drew
Awesome. I love this. Good luck on everything you guys are doing!
The cop got complaints from people who felt that they were blocked from using a public way. That is a violation. He actually could have ticketed you but he didn’t. He just freed up the public space.
You know, there are appropriate venues for public demonstrations, like City Hall Plaza or the WOrcester Common–these are broad public spaces designed exactly for that which allow people to still pass by freely. Sidewalks are not meant for this.
(repost here)
I have done demos and feed-ins with most of the people who were sign holding and handing out info on Veganism I have never saw anyone force information or block people from freely walking on the side walk. We know out rights and respect others as well. Public demos can be held anywhere on city side walks as long as it is not on the business’s property. Sidewalks are the main spot and are public not business owned therefore anyoen can demo or protest as they wish as long as it’s not harmful. What’s so wrong about educating people about a healthier way of living? Lots of Love me friends!
I watched this video again. I’m not a lawyer, but I’m certain that cop could have arrested everyone there.
Before he talked to anyone, the cop made a point of walking into the restaurant through the door Veg Worcester was partially blocking. Protesters had to get out of the way in order for him to enter.
Drew was uncooperative and somewhat disrespectful. He repeatedly refused to give information. He laughed at the cop’s requests multiple times and made lame attempts to play dumb.
Nick, we certainly were not trying to block any entrance. Our goal for these vegan feed-ins is to reach out to Worcesterites downtown and show them that vegan food is tasty and accessible. I encourage you to review the footage taken by the other WCCA staff from earlier in the hour. I’m sure you’ll find that throughout the event, everyone present was friendly and no one was trying to block any foot-traffic.
We hold a vegan feed-in like this every month and always get positive responses.
I’m not trying to imply malice.
I can’t say what people were trying to do or what happenned when I wasn’t there. I’m just pointing out the facts.
HEY YOU STAY IN THE FREE SPEECH ZONE
Again, if you were in the public way and had a table there, you were in violation.
No one says you could not have done it across the street on City Hall Plaza where there would be plenty of room to walk around you. Your photos clearly show your banners to be streched out across the entrance to the store.
Also, just like street cart vendors, you were dispensing food in a public way. That is unlawful without a permit.
Suppose you poisoned someone? There needs to be a clear way for the city to pursue the source. It certainly would not have been Dunkin’ Donuts liability, but you could have confused authorities because it was a doughnut, but YOU were responsible, not them. You’d have packed up and left by the time anyone reported it. The health dept. needs to investigate the source so you won’t poison someone else.
Moreover, where does it stop? You had a freakin’ table in the sidewalk. What about a tent?
Can I park my car there, too?
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