Turkey Pardons Are the ‘Pits’! PETA Asks Governor to Make History With the ‘Great Cherry Pardon’

For Immediate Release:
November 11, 2025

Contact:
Hannah Nelson 202-483-7382

Ahead of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s plans to “pardon” two turkeys next week—and because turkey pardons are a sour endorsement of the cruel, destructive meat industry—PETA sent a letter today urging the Governor to instead initiate the nation’s first “Great Cherry Pardon” and honor Michigan’s status as the country’s top tart cherry producer. As PETA points out, turkeys “pardoned” by government leaders often end up sorely neglected and confined to barren enclosures, unable to perch, dust-bathe, or engage in anything that is natural and important to them.

“This Thanksgiving, PETA urges Governor Whitmer to celebrate Michigan’s fruit farmers, and for everyone to give birds a break by choosing a vegan feast that everyone can be thankful for,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “There’s nothing more traditional than the good old cherry tree, and a cherry pie on every table would certainly be a treat to gobble up.”   

In nature, turkeys spend their days caring for their babies, building nests, and foraging for food, and they can live for over 10 years. But in the meat industry, turkeys’ throats are slit within their first six months of life—and 46 million turkeys are killed every year, on average, for Thanksgiving alone. PETA’s ThanksVegan guide is packed with recipes, cooking tips, and everything else needed to enjoy a delicious turkey-friendly holiday, including a scrumptious recipe for vegan cherry pie.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. PETA also offers a free vegan starter kit on its website for anyone ready to make the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Whitmer follows.

November 11, 2025

The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of Michigan

Dear Governor Whitmer:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including nearly 175,000 in Michigan—to suggest a sweet and sustainable new tradition: What if you skipped the turkey pardon and instead initiated the nation’s first “Great Cherry Pardon” ahead of Thanksgiving this year? Please allow me to elaborate.

By launching the Great Cherry Pardon, you would honor the farmers who cultivate Michigan’s famous tart cherries and celebrate its leadership in sustainable farming, something turkey farming definitely is not. From Traverse City’s Cherry Festival to the countless pies, jams, and juices that originate in Michigan soil, cherries are central to the state’s very identity. Pardoning cherries would encourage everyone to enjoy these healthy, locally grown foods that are rich in antioxidants, contain no cholesterol, and have been shown to reduce inflammation, ease pain from arthritis and gout, support heart health, and improve sleep quality. Compare all that to cholesterol-laden turkey that hardens your arteries!

Turkeys are wise, social individuals who care deeply for their young, but the way they’re treated on factory farms would turn anyone’s stomach. We’ve recorded turkeys being kicked, choked, and sexually abused. Before they end up on the table, they’re slammed upside down into shackles while still conscious and dragged through an electrified stun bath before their throats are slit, often while they’re still able to feel pain.

The Great Cherry Pardon would be a fun and popular way to celebrate Michigan’s fruit farmers and promote sustainable agriculture. Will you please let this idea take root under your leadership and help make history—with a little cherry on top? Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

Founder