It’s War! PETA’s “iScream” Truck Visits Friendly’s to Lure Customers With Free Vegan Ice Cream on National Ice Cream Day
For Immediate Release:
July 17, 2026
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
Determined to get the truth out that there is no retirement home for “dairy cows,”PETA’s “iScream” truck—bearing signs reading“Friendly’s KILLS COWS!”—will pull up at the Friendly’s on Maine Mall Road on Sunday, National Ice Cream Day, ready to scoop up Friendly’s customers by giving away free dairy-free ice cream for all. The truck also offers kids a chance to scream bloody murder, something kids love to do, and to spin a wheel for treats.
On hand will also be a mischievous unicorn who will get up to who-knows-what as part of the frosty fracas that is the latest escalation of PETA’s showdown with big dairy-owned Friendly’s, which refuses to accommodate those who do not eat dairy because they are lactose intolerant or simply don’t support taking calves away from their mothers and sending all of them to slaughter when they’re no longer productive.
“By refusing to offer a single animal-friendly vegan ice cream, Friendly’s leaves tons of kids out in the cold,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is inviting everyone to stop by our mobile parlor for a magical afternoon of kids’ scream challenges, a prize wheel, and delicious vegan desserts that everyone can enjoy.”
When: Sunday, July 19, 1 p.m.
Where: Outside Friendly’s, 210 Maine Mall Rd., South Portland
Why: Cows have friends and mourn when a loved one dies or when they’re separated from each other, yet in the dairy industry, female cows are forcibly impregnated and have their beloved calves stolen from them so the milk meant to nourish their babies can be sold to humans. Newborn males are slaughtered for veal, while female calves endure the same fate as their mothers until their bodies wear out and they’re sent to slaughter.
PETA notes that with an abundance of dairy-free ice creams available today—including decadent vegan flavors from Oatly, Breyers, and Ben & Jerry’s—it’s never been easier to opt for delicious desserts that let calves stay with their mothers. PETA’s free vegan starter kit—and guide to chains that offer vegan ice cream—can help anyone looking to make the switch.
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. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
