Moment furious shoppers try to barge Animal Rising activists out of the way with their trolleys as they stage sit-in protest in Sainsbury’s meat aisle

Angry shoppers have taken out their frustration on animal rights activists blocking their way in a supermarket – by trying to barge through with their trolleys.

Customers have been praised online for their defiant response to Animal Rising campaigners staging a sit-in protest in the meat aisle of a busy Sainsbury’s store.

Calls of ‘Who do you think you are?’ and ‘You move – well, I’ll just knock you out of the way’ are heard in TikTok videos of the confrontation which been shared online.

A 65-second clip shows members of the animal rights group staging the demo in a Sainsbury’s branch in the Southampton district of Portswood last Saturday afternoon.

That was just one of various Animal Rising protests across the country that day, also targeting Marks and Spencer outlets.

The group wanted to draw attention to complaints it has made about the RSPCA Assured farm scheme which approves meat products sold by supermarket chains.

BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham quit as RSPCA president last month over concerns about alleged ‘animal cruelty’ were raised. 

Yet there has been praise for the shoppers seen attempting to make their way through the sit-ins – while police were called but decided not to take further action. 

Were YOU involved in the Sainsbury’s meat aisle clash? Email aidan.radnedge.mol@mailonline.co.uk 

Shoppers were seen blocked from pushing their trolleys through a sit-in protest by campaign group Animal Rising at a branch of Sainsbury’s in the Southampton district of Portswood

One man was seen in footage shared on TikTok trying to push through with his trolley

One man was seen in footage shared on TikTok trying to push through with his trolley

A group of seven Animal Rising campaigners sat cross-legged on the floor of the Portswood Sainsbury’s meat aisle for more than an hour around 1.30pm on Saturday.

They brandished banners showing messages targeting the RSPCA Assured scheme – and refused to budge when shoppers tried to make their way through.

One man pushing a trolley, and eventually attempting to push through the blockade, told the protesters: ‘I’ve asked you several times – I’ve asked you nicely.’

He added: ‘Who do you think you are? I want to get past here.’

A female shopper is seen in the online footage telling the demonstrators who barred her way: ‘No, I’m not going round – you move.

‘Well, I’ll just knock you out of the way with my trolley, then.’

One of the Animal Rising members responds by saying: ‘We’re here to make a protest, to make a point.’ 

The clip shows a member of Sainsbury’s staff approaching the group – and online viewers have asked why the store did not appear to do more to resolve the situation.

The male shopper is heard telling demonstrators, 'I've asked you several times, I've asked you nicely' - before asking: 'Who do you think you are?'

The male shopper is heard telling demonstrators, ‘I’ve asked you several times, I’ve asked you nicely’ – before asking: ‘Who do you think you are?’

Comments below the TikTok video which was shared by a poster using the name @vegan.fairy.x included ‘Well done that man’ and ‘Let people shop in peace’.

One poster said of the Animal Rising demonstrators: ‘Bunch of absolute morons, you aren’t protesting.

‘You are choosing to make people’s life difficult because you don’t agree with something.’

Another wrote: ‘Honestly I CRAVE meeting people like this – my anger issues would get such a relief.’

There were further replies such as ‘The old gent is spot on – get out of the way’, ‘Why are they not removed by the supermarket?’ and ‘Move out of the way, have some respect for your elderly’. 

But the video’s original poster stuck up for the Animal Rising demo, insisting ‘Peaceful protests are legal here’ and ‘They won’t make us stop caring about animals.’ 

Their caption attached to the TikTok upload stated: ‘The protest was held by animal rights group animal rising to highlight the cruelty that the RSPCA is assuring. 

‘Well done to these amazing activists for standing their ground.’

TikTok commenters have criticised the demonstrators and praised shoppers who were facing them - but the original poster of the footage has responded by defending the sit-in protest

TikTok commenters have criticised the demonstrators and praised shoppers who were facing them – but the original poster of the footage has responded by defending the sit-in protest

The campaign group today told MailOnline that similar sit-ins were held between 1pm and 4pm last Saturday in other locations including Birmingham, Chelmsford, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Nottingham, Eastbourne and Gloucester.

Rose Patterson, lead investigator for Animal Rising, said: ‘We would encourage all stockists of RSPCA Assured products to reconsider their connections to this scheme.

‘Our investigations have shown that whether on the farm or at the slaughterhouse, cruelty is endemic within the Assured scheme. It’s time for the RSPCA to drop the Assured label for good, and instead lead the way to a kinder future for all animals.

‘The scheme is not worth the paper its labels are printed on. Shoppers who want to buy ethically don’t expect the RSPCA to endorse factory farms, and supermarkets bear some of the responsibility when so much evidence has been brought to light about the truth behind the RSPCA Assured.

‘The Assured scheme has not only failed in its objective to protect farmed animals, but through its endorsement and advertising of a false idyllic farm setting, is actively causing more harm by persuading consumers that farming and slaughter can be humane.’

Hampshire Constabulary said they were aware of the protest at Sainsbury’s in Portswood, adding: ‘Local officers did attend the area in the early afternoon. However, there were no issues that will require further police intervention.’ 

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘Last week police were called to an incident which took place at our Southampton Portswood store. We’re sorry for the temporary disruption this may have caused some customers.’

Wildlife campaigner Packham last month resigned as president of the RSPCA after an investigation unearthed allegations of animal abuse at charity approved abattoirs – while former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas quit as the charity’s vice-president.

Wildlife campaigner Chris Packham last month resigned as president of the RSPCA after an investigation unearthed allegations of animal abuse at charity -approved abattoirs 

RSPCA Vice-President Caroline Lucas, who was also the former leader of the Green Party, also resigned from her post amid the claims

Both took to X, formerly Twitter, to speak of their ‘sadness’ at their departure, with Lucas saying the charity’s ‘assured’ scheme ‘risk[ed] misleading the public’ and ‘legitimising cruelty’.

Their departure came after an investigation by Animal Rising made claims of cruelty at ‘assured’ slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment.

‘RSPCA Assured’ is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s ‘stringent higher welfare standards’, according to its website.

The RSPCA last June commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the programme was ‘operating effectively’ to ensure animal welfare on member farms.

In the fallout of footage released by Animal Rising in December, the RSPCA said it was ‘appalled’ by what was shown, and has launched an immediate investigation alongside suspending three slaughterhouses from the scheme.

Packham had previously threatened to resign after footage emerged of salmon swimming without tails and chunks missing from their bodies at an RSPCA Assured facility in Scotland.

At the time – last July – he signalled that unless changes were made in the way welfare was enforced, he would possibly quit his role as President of the organisation.

Later in August footage alleged staff were hitting pigs with paddles in their ‘terror-filled final moments’ in an RSPCA approved abattoir in Suffolk.

A video filmed secretly at an RSPCA-certified abattoir in Suffolk called C&K Meats showed staff hitting pigs with paddles in 'terror-filled final moments' before they are slaughtered for meat

A video filmed secretly at an RSPCA-certified abattoir in Suffolk called C&K Meats showed staff hitting pigs with paddles in ‘terror-filled final moments’ before they are slaughtered for meat 

The footage was recorded by campaigners from the Animal Justice Project (AJP) inside C&K Meats in 2023.

Other allegations laid against the slaughterhouse included poor hygiene practices and evidence of severe stress indicators amongst the animals, such as frothing at the mouth and heavy panting.

The slaughterhouse, which has the capacity to kill between 1,200 to 1,400 pigs a day, insisted that it was ‘committed to ensuring high levels of animal welfare and take the subject matter very seriously’.

In the wake of last month’s resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it was ‘simply not true’ that the organisation had failed to take urgent action.

The RSPCA commissioned an independent review which last October ruled the Assured scheme was ‘operating effectively’ to assure animal welfare on member farms, the charity today said.

A spokesperson added: ‘We have now commissioned two independent reviews of the scheme in the space of four years, both of which show that RSPCA Assured is making a real difference to millions of farmed animals’ lives right now. 

‘This reflects our own data from visiting nearly 4,000 farms in the last year.

‘This review provides us, our supporters and the public further confidence that RSPCA Assured is actively improving the lives of millions of farmed animals.

Chris Packham took to X to express his 'sadness' following his resignation from the RSPCA

Chris Packham took to X to express his ‘sadness’ following his resignation from the RSPCA

RSPCA Vice-President Caroline Lucas also made a social media statement on her departure

RSPCA Vice-President Caroline Lucas also made a social media statement on her departure

‘We want a world where RSPCA Assured isn’t needed any more but right now it is the last line of defence for far too many of the most vulnerable and exploited animals. 

‘No one else is doing this work – we are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms.

‘Improving farmed animals welfare is hard, but RSPCA Assured has given us the experience and insight to influence government and the food and farming industry to drive critical changes to legislation and practice, as well as raising the bar for the whole farming industry.

‘We will continue to campaign together with our colleagues in the sector for better legal protection for farmed animals, better enforcement of those protections, and a significant reduction in the number of animals farmed and animal products eaten.’



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