PETA Activists Block PepsiCo Headquarters With Feet in Cement During Shareholder Meeting

Six animal rights activists with their feet encased in cement blocked the entrance to PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase, New York, on Wednesday as the company held its virtual annual shareholder meeting. The protesters, who wore bull horns, spilled fake blood on the roadway while chanting.

Video from the scene showed cars honking as officers arrived and began arresting the group, at times removing their costume bull horns. Firefighters later used drills to break the cement blocks from the protesters' feet. Some of the activists were taken to ambulances on stretchers after the cement was removed.

The demonstration was staged to urge PepsiCo to stop sourcing sugar from partners and suppliers in India. PETA stated that bulls there are beaten, whipped and forced to haul illegally overloaded sugar cane carts in extreme heat. “PepsiCo must stop allowing bulls to be beaten and worked until they collapse to haul the sugar in Pepsi-branded beverages,” PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement.

” The action coincided with a shareholder resolution submitted by PETA. The resolution asked PepsiCo to issue a report detailing whether its supply chain complies with the company's Global Animal Welfare Policy.

PepsiCo shareholders rejected the resolution, which received 8.8 percent of the vote, PETA reported. The group called the percentage an unusually high number and said it would be enough to resubmit the resolution in the future. PepsiCo stated that it believes in the ethical and humane treatment of animals and aims to meet the expectations of its consumers, customers and stakeholders for high standards of animal welfare.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Six protesters were arrested and charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and criminal tampering. One officer at the scene was heard accusing the group of trying to stage a photo opportunity while warning them to stop the protest.