Police called after sit-in protest at McDonald's in Taunton

Yesterday (Saturday), demonstrators demanding the fast food chain moves towards a plant-based menu went to the East Street branch with their own food and occupied parts of the restaurant for over two hours.

Eventually, police were called and it was decided the protestors had not committed any offence.

The protest follows similar sit-ins held in Weymouth, Yeovil and Dorchester McDonald’s branches, as well as McDonald’s branches across the country.

They are held by members of the Animal Rebellion group, a sister organisation to Extinction Rebellion, which wants to see the environmental impact of meat reduced. 

Catherine Cannon, a local climate activist at the Taunton McSit-In, said: “The climate and ecological emergency that we are facing is critical, and we need corporations to take the lead and do everything they can to minimise their impact on the climate.

"When it comes to food, that means transitioning to plant-based. 

“McDonald’s and the wider intensive animal agriculture industry is responsible for huge levels of deforestation, and is a major driver of climate change. 

"Investigations have shown that McDonald’s livestock feed comes from deforested areas of Brazil and Bolivia.

“A fully plant-based McDonald’s may sound odd, but it is actually a very reasonable demand when we consider the scale of the crisis that we are facing.” 

In May, around 100 Animal Rebellion activists blockaded all four of McDonald’s UK distribution centres, effectively shutting down the UK supply chain of the biggest fast food company in the world.

And last month (July), a similar protest was held at McDonald's in Yeovil.

Catherine said: “We want to be clear that we are not criticising individual diet choices.  We are targeting the McDonald’s corporation, and not it’s customers. 

"We want McDonald’s to adopt a more responsible business model - one that is better for our planet and also for people’s health.

“As the biggest fast food corporation in the world, McDonald’s has a responsibility to lead the way to a more sustainable future."

READ MORE: Climate activists stage sit-in at Somerset McDonald's  

Rose Patterson, a spokesperson for Animal Rebellion, said: “We’re living in a time where massive change is possible, but our window to act on the climate crisis is closing quickly. 

"The meat and dairy industries are responsible for 80-90% of Amazon deforestation, at least 18% of global emissions. To save ourselves and the future of our children, we must start transitioning towards a plant-based food system.” 

Jon Williams, another activist at Saturday’s sit-in, said: “The quantity of meat and dairy that we are currently consuming is just not sustainable for our planet. 

“McDonald’s has a real opportunity to lead on this, but currently other chains are doing far more. 

"Wagamama has committed to going 50% plant-based by the end of this year.  That’s the kind of bold action we need to see from all food chain corporations."