Chicken-Themed Trading Cards Peeve Parents

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http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/8170686.htm

Associated Press


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - An animal-rights group ruffled some feathers by handing out chicken-themed trading cards to children after school.

Representatives from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, including a person dressed in an 8-foot-tall chicken costume, passed out "Chicken Chumps" trading cards to Lincoln Elementary School students Thursday. The cards showed unhappy-looking children with names such as "Cruel Kyle," eating chicken.

Carol Mills, who walks her children home from the school every day, questioned the tactics of PETA.

"How mature are these people to come harass elementary school kids because they eat chicken nuggets?" she said. "Are they serious?"

Ravi Chand, a PETA campaign coordinator, said the oversized chicken accompanying him brought a message of caring and compassion to the children.

But school board Secretary Jon Olinger said an elementary school was the wrong place for PETA to spread its message.

"I think it's pathetic that they're aiming a political message at 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-year-olds," he said. "It's a professional terrorist organization as far as I'm concerned."

Olinger said he would not mind if PETA targeted high school students, but that trying to get at parents through young children is wrong.

PETA often stages demonstrations to push its message of better treatment of animals. The group's visit to Fort Wayne was part of a multicity tour, and the group picked Lincoln Elementary because it is one of the largest elementary schools in the city, Chand said.

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Unfortunately - this one is not a spoof.