Evil Ronald Calls Out McDonald’s for Being “Mighty Cruel”

THE DETAILS: The protest was held at two McDonald’s restaurants in Augusta and was attended by compassionate Animal Equality volunteers holding signs depicting chickens in distress on farms like those used by McDonald’s. Evil Ronald McDonald, a bloody, menacing caricature of the restaurant’s famous mascot, was also in attendance. The protest was organized to remind McDonald’s that it has the power and responsibility to do better for innocent and suffering birds and that the only thing mighty about McDonald’s new product line is that it’s mighty cruel.

THE CAMPAIGN: For too long, McDonald’s has valued profits over basic animal protections. Over 100 leading food companies – including many of McDonald’s competitors such as Burger King, Subway, and Jack in the Box – have already committed to adopting policies that will improve the lives of chickens used for meat. Meanwhile, McDonald’s failure to make the same important changes shows that it continues to move at a mighty cruel, mighty slow pace.

THE IMPACT: Chickens raised and killed for McDonald’s menu items like the “Mighty Chicken” suffer tremendously. These smart and social animals are bred to grow so unnaturally big their own legs can’t support their weight. Their lives are just as bad, if not worse – crammed into dark sheds and trapped in filth, unable to engage in most natural behaviors. These horrific conditions are unacceptable. By banning the cruelty in its supply chain, McDonald’s would end some of the worst abuses chickens face every day.

THE TRUTH HURTS: During the protest, demonstrators showed a video of the standard living conditions of chickens raised on factory farms to a McDonald’s employee who was so disturbed by what she saw, she couldn’t even watch the full one minute video.

THE SUPPORTERS: Over 290,000 supporters from all over the world have signed a petition asking McDonald’s to do better for chickens and end #McChickenCruelty. The campaign is led by a coalition of animal protection organizations including Animal Equality, Mercy For Animals, and The Humane League.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Join the Animal Protectors and sign the petition calling on McDonald’s to publicly adopt higher, science-based standards to reduce the horrific suffering of the millions of chickens in its meat supply chain. For more information about the campaign and how you can advocate for chickens, please visit mcchickencruelty.com.