Hunts saboteurs attack vegan market organisers

Hunt saboteurs have been criticised after they launched a sinister attack on a vegan market, targeting its organiser and posting his address online to their 'warped followers'.

In a statement on Facebook, 'Derby Hunt Saboteurs' hounded organisers of the event, who had run the gathering for vegan orientated businesses on Saturday 4^th February 2023 at Cathedral Green in Derby, after they hosted representatives from the Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds ( RSPB) and the World Wildlife Forum (WWF)

The statement read: 'Yesterday it came to our attention that the Derby Vegan Market had 2 questionable stall holders at a supposedly "vegan" event.

'The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was founded in 1961 by a group of wealthy trophy hunters. They still endorse the killing of wild animals.

'The RSPB employs bloodsports enthusiasts to kill wildlife. In one year they killed 598 foxes.

'While it is great to see more vegan events, please be careful who you are giving your money to and which organisations you choose to support.'

In a separate post, the same saboteur group went even further, revealing the home address of the director of the company hosting the Derby Vegan Market, Vegan Market Co (Earth Events Ltd), claiming it was a livestock farm which raises cattle, goats and sheep.

The address has since been changed with Companies House, with another group 'Derbyshire Against the Cull', claiming the director had been 'caught out'.

Responding to the post, one Facebook follower said: "Conflict of interest. They [RSPB AND WWF] should be banned", which the saboteurs replied "very much so. Killing animals isn't vegan".

Another angry user replied: "There's so much filth invading our safe space" which was subsequently 'liked' by the saboteur account.

Earth Events, the company which hosts around 50 vegan markets across the country-including in Lichfield, Chichester and St. Albans- claims on their website to work with 'thousands of small businesses' across the country that 'focus on producing ethical and sustainable products'.

Relations between vegan event organisers and hunt saboteurs have waned in recent years.

In 2019, the Vegan Campout, which bills itself as the 'world's largest vegan camping festival' cancelled an agreed stand for hunt saboteurs after event organisers were 'issued an ultimatum', following complaints by the Countryside Alliance to the event's host, the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society. Rather than cancel the event in its entirety, organisers scrapped the hunt sabs' official involvement.

Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance said: "People should be free to enjoy the diet that works for them without prejudice. This sinister exchange, however, does show that there is an ideologically obsessive streak running through the plant-based food advocacy bubble, which remains fixated on deeply unsavoury attacks against farmers and those who work in the countryside.

"While this continues, it remains likely veganism will remain a dietary choice confined to a very small number of people".

He added: "Hunt saboteurs, though small in number, are becoming increasingly violent and irrational. Sharing addresses of people who don't view the world through their very narrow focus, to their warped followers on social media, will obviously intimidate people who are not used to their murky tactics.

"It serves as a further reminder as to why the authorities need to crack down on their activity and treat the violent threat they pose incredibly seriously."

For more news stories like this, sign up to our free Morning Briefing today