French butchers write letter to government over ‘violence’ from vegans
The letter was sent on behalf of 18,000 concerned butchers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.French butchers have written a letter to their government over concerns that they’re under threat from “violent” vegan campaigners.
The letter, which was written by the president of the French Confederation of Butchery and Charcuterie (CFBCT) Jean-François Guihard, was sent to the Interior Minister Gérard Collomb last week according to France 24 and published on Facebook on Monday.
According to Mr Guihard, the letter was written on behalf of 18,000 butchers across the country who had expressed concerns over the popularisation and “authoritarianism” of veganism.
He explained that several “activists” had targeted butcheries with acts of vandalism such as painting shop fronts with fake blood, spraying graffiti and throwing stones through windows.
Mr Guihard referenced a number of recent incidents where businesses had been subjected to damage, including a butcher, fishmonger, restaurant and rotisserie that had been targeted in the Hauts-de-France region.
At one point in the letter he described these aggressive acts as “terrorism”, imploring for the minister to take action and support French butcheries.
“We are counting on your services and the support of the entire government to stop, as soon as possible, violence physical, verbal, moral against the honest professionals that we are,” the letter reads.
Mr Guihard, who was named president of the CFBCT in January 2017, also mentioned how in March this year, the town of Trèbes was subject to an attack by a gunman, during which butcher Christian Medves was among those killed.
Following the attack, a French vegan was given a prison sentence after posting on Facebook that she felt there was "some justice" in Mr Medves' murder due to his profession.
Mr Guihard explained in the letter that the damage being inflicted on French butcheries has not only been having a financial impact on their businesses, but also an emotional effect on those involved.
“Mr Minister, in the face of this escalation of violence, what will be the next step?” he wrote.
“How can we support that a part of the population is permanently stigmatised on the basis of their membership of a profession?”
Earlier this month, a butcher's in Ashford, Kent was vandalised with graffiti by “vegan activists”, with the family who owns the shop saying that they now “live in fear”.
However, they also stated that they don’t want the attack to cause any “hatefulness to vegans”, as it wasn’t an accurate representation of all individuals who follow vegan lifestyles.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments