‘All I Want for Christmas is TOFU!’ PETA Ads Rise Near Churches

Billboards Urge People to Have Faith in Merciful Vegan Meals

For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2020

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Rapid City, S.D. –

To encourage residents of Rapid City, a top religious area, to offer animals some peace and goodwill at Christmas and year-round, PETA is placing billboards near churches, promoting a versatile, animal-friendly food that many people love but many more have never tried.

“Opting for tasty tofu and other vegan foods is the perfect way to honor the Christmas message of peace on Earth and goodwill to all creation,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is encouraging everyone to celebrate with compassion by trying vegan foods that save lives.”

Animals are not mentioned in Genesis 1:29, which states that God provides “every seed-bearing plant” and “every tree whose fruit contains seed” as food for humans. Yet because many people eat animals, those used for food are subjected to pain and suffering from the moment they’re born, as they endure factory farming, transport through all weather extremes, and a traumatic death at slaughter.

In addition to saving nearly 200 animals every year, each person who goes vegan reduces their risk of suffering from heart disease, strokes, and diabetes, which are linked to the consumption of meat and dairy, and can even help prevent future pandemics. SARS, bird flu, swine flu, and COVID-19 have all been traced to animal markets, while tofu has never caused a pandemic.

PETA offers a free holiday recipe guide along with a variety of delicious tofu-based recipes on its website, such as General Tso’s Tofu and Buffalo Tofu-Scramble Breakfast Tacos and a vegan starter kit filled with more recipes and tips.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

The billboards are located at the following locations:

At the intersection of E. Saint Patrick and E. St. Joseph streets, next to a Subway restaurant and 0.6 miles from Journey Church
At the intersection of Omaha and Third streets, facing east, just 0.4 miles from Project Church and near a farmer’s market and a natural foods store
On E. North Street between E. Philadelphia Street and N. Maple Avenue, 0.3 miles from Christian Reformed Church
On W. Main Street at the intersection with Cross Street