A group of animal rights activists held a demonstration, which was so intimidating that a nine-year-old girl lied about being a vegetarian.
Louise Kirby, 38, and her family were doing their weekly shop in Sainsbury’s in Bolton, UK when they were confronted by 12 vegan protesters.
The group of activists dressed in regular clothes held placards with animals and slogans plastered across them.
Ms Kirby said the demonstration was upsetting her two young daughters, so she had to ask security to make activists leave.
The woman explained that she had her ‘head in the shelves’ talking about bargains when her daughter suddenly said ‘I’m vegetarian, I don’t eat anything here’.
Kirby said: “‘I had my head in the shelves when my daughter suddenly said ‘I’m vegetarian, I don’t eat anything here. I laughed and said don’t be silly, since when?”
“I looked up and at that point, I felt the atmosphere change – you could cut it with a knife – it was really scary.
“I’m a carnivore, that’s my choice, if my children wanted to be vegetarian I would support them as it’s their choice.
“But it’s wrong for people to try and force beliefs on to me and my children – they upset my two-year-old daughter Elsie and scared Sophie so much that she randomly shouted she was vegetarian.
“They also videoed me and my children and put it online, until my husband asked them to take it down, which is unacceptable.”
The woman added: “I felt really awful about the whole thing so ended up going to the security guard and explaining how I felt a bit intimidated.
“I told them not to bring my children into their protest as they have nothing to do with this. It’s out of order.”
Shortly after the protest the group of activists was escorted from the store. Sainsbury’s spokesperson described the incident as ‘clearly distressing’.
But a spokesman for Bolton Chicken Save animal rights group denied any bad intentions and said that the activists were trying to “save the babies and children”
He said: ” Occasionally we visit Sainsbury’s with placards showing a tiny fraction of the animals we have witnessed bound for slaughter in Bolton.
“We stand quietly and peacefully for a few minutes inside the store and then leave.
” Sadly on Saturday a lady became quite angry at us being there.
“We are sorry the lady felt we were there to intimidate her, we can assure her that was not our intention, we were just trying to raise awareness.”
