Sainsbury's shoppers barge past Animal Rising activists blocking meat aisle in supermarket
Vegan protesters block shopper in supermarket - WATCH NOW
GB NEWS/TIKTOK
Sainsbury's shoppers were forced to barge past protesters in a supermarket clash this weekend after animal rights activists staged a sit-in demonstration.
Customers browsing meat products at a branch of the supermarket in Southampton found themselves being held up by Animal Rising protesters - sparking fiery clashes as they tried to move through the aisle.
Footage of the incident has emerged on social media - with cries of "Who do you think you are?" and "You move - well, I'll just knock you out of the way" heard ringing out as the shoppers were held up.
Activists were seen forming a blockade by sitting down arm-in-arm next to a selection of chicken products, sparking fury from customers attempting to get past.
Activists were seen forming a blockade by sitting down arm-in-arm next to a selection of chicken products
TIKTOK
A minute-long clip of the clash showed two shoppers butting heads with the demonstrators - and when one older woman tried to break through the line, a protester could be heard claiming they were being assaulted.
The activists were holding placards showing messages targeting the RSPCA Assured animal welfare scheme - but refused to budge when shoppers tried to make their way through.
One man pushing a trolley told the group: "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."
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When one older woman tried to break through the line, a protester could be heard claiming they were being assaulted
TIKTOK
The aforementioned female shopper is seen in the footage telling the protesters: "No, I'm not going round - you move.
"Well, I'll just knock you out of the way with my trolley, then," she vowed.
One of the Animal Rising members responds by saying: "We're here to make a protest, to make a point."
When probed by MailOnline, Animal Rising said that it had staged similar demonstrations in shops in Birmingham, Chelmsford, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Nottingham, Eastbourne and Gloucester.
The RSPCA Assured programme sees labels attached to food products if they meet a certain standard of animal welfare - but Animal Rising claims that "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," it says.
Hampshire Constabulary said it was aware of the protest at Sainsbury's in Southampton.
A spokesman for the force said: "Local officers did attend the area in the early afternoon. However, there were no issues that will require further police intervention."
While a spokesman for Sainsbury's 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."
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