Scores of citizens lined the streets of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday to urge passersby to boycott McDonald's until it requires its suppliers to adopt an improved chicken-slaughter method. Among the 70 or so people who joined PETA in protesting McDonald's cruelty were teens and senior citizens, families and couples, and even a few dogs.

Most impressive were the kids who had created their own homemade signs to show McDonald's that people will not sit idly by while the company allows its suppliers to scald chickens to death and commit other atrocities.  

These kids showed maturity and dignity that would make any parent proud—and, of course, their own parents were extremely pleased.

Even Boogie the dog joined in by wearing a sticker to show his dislike of McDonald's abuse of chickens.

Written by Joseph Mayton

PETA asked for your help in picking the naughtiest person of 2010, and boy, did you guys come through—to the tune of more than 2.7 million lumps of coal! And the "winner" is … Ronald McDonald. The cruel clown got a run for his (blood) money from the CEO of SeaWorld, but in the end, it was no contest.

Well, what else would you expect when you're the embodiment of a company that refuses to adopt a less cruel method of chicken slaughter, instead clinging stubbornly to antiquated practices that result in the abuse of countless chickens, who suffer broken bones, cut throats, hemorrhaging, and immersion in scalding-hot water—all while they're still conscious?

Now that we know he's the worst offender of the year, let's persuade Ronald to make a New Year's resolution to be kinder to animals in 2011! To tell McDonald's, "I'm hatin' it," just go here.

Written by Jeff Mackey

When I read that Joan Jett jumped on a car hood to join PETA's protest outside the Waldorf Astoria, where McDonald's Jim Skinner was to receive a "Distinguished CEO" award (?!) last night, I started applauding.

Sure, Jim Skinner is "distinguished"—from anyone with an ounce of compassion and a kernel of common sense, that is. Why else would McDonald's continue to refuse to mandate that its American and Canadian suppliers implement controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK) in order to dramatically reduce the cruelty that they inflict on billions of animals? Chicken slaughterhouses in the U.S. have started to implement CAK, and some restaurant chains (including Quiznos, Subway, Starbucks, and Ruby Tuesday) and grocery chains (including Safeway, Harris Teeter, and Winn-Dixie) already purchase turkeys killed by CAK.

Know this: As long as Skinner and other execs at McDonald's thumb their noses at compassion, we'll continue to finger their shameful ways. Care to give us a hand?

Written by Karin Bennett

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has voted to require restaurant kids' meals that come with free toys to contain fewer than 600 calories, include fruits and veggies, and exclude fat- and sugar-laden beverages. And (surprise!) McDonald's Happy Meal doesn't make the cut.

As a kid (before I went vegetarian "cold turkey" at age 10 after realizing that meat comes from a living, breathing being), I would beg my parents to take me to Mickey D's for the latest cheap plastic doodad. I couldn't have cared less about the fat-and-cholesterol bomb in a bun that came with it, but the toy lured me (and my parents) to the drive-through month after month.
 

With 15 percent of American children now classified as overweight or obese—putting them in danger of serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—stopping restaurants like McDonald's from using "kid bait" to market unhealthy animal flesh to children seems like a pretty good idea to this former Happy Meal lover.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

OK, we don't have the powers of The Shadow to let us know what evil lurks in the heart of Ronald McDonald, but some recent stories shed some light on who McDonald's might be hatin'.

1.      Its Employees

The manager of a McDonald's in Brazil had to take the company to court to win compensation after gaining 65 pounds from having to sample the restaurant's food for a dozen years.

2.      African-Americans

Another lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, alleges that three black men were told that they couldn't use the restrooms in a Kips Bay McDonald's unless they made a purchase, while a white woman was allowed to use the facilities without having to buy anything.

3.      Animals (Especially Chickens)

Now that two U.S. chicken suppliers have begun implementing a less cruel method of slaughter called controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK), McDonald's has run out of excuses for continuing to subject birds to violence and injuries. Please add your voice today to those calling on McDonald's to require its suppliers to use CAK to spare chickens from unnecessary suffering.

Written by Jeff Mackey

And here are a few recent ones: 

PETA Germany's "shoebox demo" was a startling reminder that a shoebox can be considered a coffin if its contents are made from animal skins. The action sparked a flurry of media attention—Teddy Hilton called it "creative" and "chic."

PETA's Lettuce Ladies could barely keep up with demand during their veggie dog giveaway in Baltimore. One eager fan was hugely relieved to learn that the dogs were indeed intended for hungry two-legged animals.

Caring folks visited the Santa Ana Zoo to remind both zoo officials and visitors that imprisoned elephants who express their frustrations over their miserable confinement can be very dangerous—and that forcing them to give rides is outrageously irresponsible and cruel.

These "chickens" ran for their lives in a McDonald's-sponsored marathon in Chicago.

Thousands recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for the One Nation Working Together rally on the National Mall—among them were PETA reps who offered up the many reasons why going vegan is the most logical, responsible choice.

You can help animals, meet caring people, and get in on the action too!

Written by Karin Bennett

Dozens of celebrities, including Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Iggy Pop, and comedic improv genius Fred Willard—all of whom were in attendance at PETA's 30^th Anniversary Gala—signed our petition calling on McDonald's to reduce cruelty to chickens. Check it out.

All these celebrities join countless caring folks who've taken action against the atrocious treatment of birds on the factory farms that supply McCruelty. Chickens deserve a break—not broken wings or death by scalding. So they need you to be a shining star for them too.

Written by Karin Bennett 

Earlier this year, we shared a selection of the bad behavior that seems to crop up frequently at McDonald's restaurants, prompted by the story of a woman who went berserk at the drive-through window when she was denied McNuggets. But her nugget-driven nastiness was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Consider the following incidents, just from the past few months: 

• Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman at a McDonald's in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after workers accused her of stuffing a burger down her pants and screaming at a crew member.
• In Florida, a man was hauled in after reportedly trying to exchange drugs for McDonald's cheeseburgers; to make matters worse, he was apparently driving a stolen car—with an expired license.
• A woman has filed a lawsuit contending that the manager of a New Orleans McDonald's threatened her with a knife.
• A fired McDonald's night-shift manager allegedly robbed her former employer's store in Oklahoma while wearing a girdle on her face.
• Not to be outdone, an 18-year-old McDonald's worker in Hialeah, Florida, has been charged with robbing his own store twice in less than one month. But, hey, at least he kept showing up to work.

rensenbrink78/ CC by 2.0

What could be causing this epidemic of violence? Are these folks just that addicted to the taste of cruelty—or is it some kind of karmic payback for McDonald's callous refusal to require its U.S. and Canadian suppliers to adopt a less cruel method of chicken slaughter?

We're sure that none of you eat at McDonald's, but be sure to tell everyone you care about to stay away from those golden arches for their own safety—and for animals' sake!

Written by Jeff Mackey

Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple, has taken a shine to PETA pal Stella McCartney, and the fur-free designer's good influence has rubbed off—Stella says that she has convinced Apple to go vegetarian! According to the Daily Mail, Gwyneth sent Stella a photo of Apple wearing a PETA T-shirt and said, "She's your child!"

Hats off to Apple for realizing at such a young age that animals are friends, not food.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Why did the chicken cross the road? To catch a ride in superstar activist Christina Cho's super-sweet McCruelty-mobile:

Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth