Shoppers try to ram Animal Rising protesters with trolleys in Sainsbury's meat aisle
New footage shows the moment furious Sainsbury's shoppers used their trollies to try to ram animal rights protesters blocking the aisles. Seven members of campaign group Animal Rising sat cross-legged as they staged a sit-in in the meat aisle of the supermarket.
Protests were also held at M&S stores in Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Eastbourne, Chelmsford, Southampton and Gloucester.
The footage, captured in Sainsbury's in Southampton last Saturday, shows the campaigners holding up a banner blasting the RSPCA's Assured scheme - which accredits farms for animal welfare - and refusing to let any shoppers past.
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The less-than-impressed customers can be heard saying "Who do you think you are?" and "I'll just knock you out of the way" as they attempt to break up the blockade with their trollies, the Mirror reports.
One man tells the protesters "I've asked you several times - nicely" as he pushes his trolley through, before adding: "Who do you think you are? I want to get past here." A different shopper tells them: "No, I'm not going round - you move. Well, I'll just knock you out of the way with my trolley, then." But one Animal Rising member hits back, telling him: "We're here to make a protest, to make a point."
Sainsbury's staff and security can also be seen approaching the group, who remain in place until the end of the video. Animal Rising said it staged the protest to draw attention to the RSPCA Assured scheme, which it said was not doing enough to protect animals from suffering.
Hampshire Police said they attended the supermarket on the day but found "no issues" that would require "further police intervention". A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: "Last week the police were called to an incident which took place at our Southampton Portswood store. We’re sorry for the temporary disruption this may have caused some customers."
A statement from Animal Rising on social media said: "Animal Rising campaigners went viral this week with our peaceful action in a Sainsbury’s store angering shoppers in Southampton. Rightwing pundits sharing this video have spread our message about RSPCA Assured cruelty even wider than before!
"The supermarket is a major stockist for the RSPCA Assured scheme, in which widespread suffering of animals on farms and slaughterhouses was uncovered by Animal Rising investigators last year. Multiple groups peacefully held banners, handed out leaflets, or sat in the aisles at Sainsbury’s and M&S stores around England over the weekend to raise awareness.
"Although actions like these may annoy some shoppers, we know that most people looking to buy RSPCA Assured products would be horrified by the suffering, cruelty and neglect rife within the scheme. Farmed animals deserve the protection of the world's largest animal charity as much as cats and dogs, but have been consistently let down by the world’s largest, most powerful animal charity. We hope 2025 is the year the RSPCA comes to its senses and embraces its core values of protecting ALL life."
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