Anti-dairy and animal rights advocates have been circulating requests via social media for others to join them for planned protests during World Dairy Expo 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. The messages identify two specific dates and times for the planned protests: Friday, Oct. 6, noon-2 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 7, 4-6 p.m.
The Bullvine Offers Recommendations
The Bullvine offers the following recommendations and reminders when encountering animal rights activists:
- Establish animal welfare policies and post the policies at the event. Inform every participant of your club or organization about the proper care and handling of animals prior to the show.
- Within your organization or farm, designate a spokesperson to be the key communicator about animal welfare and care while at the fair or exposition.
- Ignore activists or protestors. Document any confrontation or actions and report to event organizers.
- Do not face a confrontation alone, seek out the designated spokesperson, barn official or law enforcement officer for help.
- Communicate in a friendly, positive manner and do not get angry or upset. Treat people with respect even if they have different opinions and views from you.
- Leave it to law enforcement. Protesters have a right to free speech. Law enforcement and Alliant Energy Center officials have designated a place for protesters to stand. They should stay on public ground on the north or south side of the Rimrock Road entrance.
- Protesters are not allowed to protest at our show. The protesters may decide to enter the event with their signs and chants. They do not have the right to disrupt your event. World Dairy Expo will have security and law enforcement officials remove them.
- If protestors begin chanting please call the WDE office at (608) 224-6455. They will alert security and law enforcement officials. Do not attempt to engage with them yourself. A video of a police officer stopping them demonstrates they are breaking the law. A visual of a dairy producer or exhibitor stopping them says, “get out of here” and could be positioned to make you/dairy look like the bad guy.
- World Dairy Expo has prepared spokespeople on how to respond to questions about the protesters. If the media requests an interview, our designated spokespeople will handle it.
- Tell everyone at the show to leave the protesters alone. Do not engage with the protestors through discussions, shouting, violence, or mimicking. Engaging with them creates a media circus and makes a great lead-in for the news. Speaking with them or trying to hold a conversation so they “see both sides” will not change their minds. Someone may use a videophone or flip camera to record your voice and give it to the media. Please be careful and watchful.
Key Messages You Can Use If Asked By A Non-dairy Industry Guest Or Visitor About The Protesters:
- Like all North Americans, we respect freedom of speech. We actually share a common goal with the protestors. We both want dairy cows to have the best care possible. It’s everyone’s number one priority.
- As you know, dairy cows must be healthy and well-cared for in order to produce pure, wholesome milk. The cows at World Dairy Expo – like on the farm – lie on soft bedding, have access to food and water, and are kept cool on warm days or given shelter during cold days. We encourage you to walk through the New Holland Pavilions and see for yourself.
Let’s all be prepared, but do not give them the reaction they are looking for.
