PETA Challenges Notion of Human Supremacy in New Ads in Springfield

Campaign Questioning the Idea That Humans Are Superior to All Other Animals Hits Illinois State Fair

For Immediate Release:
August 1, 2019

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Just in time for the Illinois State Fair, PETA is challenging everyone in the community to think about animals differently with two billboards near the fairgrounds: The ads shows a sheep, a pig, and a cow with the words “We Also Feel Pain, Love, Joy, and Fear. #EndSpeciesism.” The ads are part of a new national campaign against the old belief that despite their extraordinary talents, abilities, and intelligence, all other animal species are inferior to our own and that it’s somehow acceptable to continue to experiment on, eat, wear, and use animals for entertainment.

“The state fair showcases that old-style, speciesist attitude, with attendees encouraged to see animals as nothing more than the sum of their parts—something, not someone,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA’s billboards send the message that all animals—from humans to hens—are made of flesh and blood, feel pain and fear, desire freedom, love their offspring, have unique personalities, and value their lives.”

Because of human prejudice, highly social primates are caged alone in laboratories; billions of cows, chickens, pigs, and others are hacked apart in slaughterhouses every year; coyotes are trapped in the wild and their fur is turned into jacket trim; and tigers are whipped to force them to perform in traveling circuses. It’s 2019 and time for a more enlightened view.

PETA—whose motto reads, “Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way”—encourages everyone to combat speciesism by buying cosmetics that weren’t tested on animals, choosing vegan food and fashion, staying away from animal circuses, and otherwise rejecting the exploitation of all animals.

One billboard is located at 1923 N. Peoria Rd., and the other is on Veterans Parkway/N. Peoria Road, between Water Works and Old Waterworks roads. PETA’s #EndSpeciesism ads are also running this month at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis and at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and they’ll appear on billboards in several other cities.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.