Over the last few years, Americans have watched as protests raged throughout the country due to COVID-19, the 2020 election, abortion, and the war in Ukraine. While it is easy to understand why each problem would be accompanied by protests, recently, Oscar Nominee James Cromwell decided to hold a protest of his own at a New York City Starbucks. The reason behind the protest was because the company was charging more for customers to have plant-based milk in their drink rather than regular milk.
What made the protest even more strange was not the fact that it was live-streamed on Facebook thanks to the Ethical Treatment of Animals, but due to the actor supergluing himself to the counter while wearing a shirt saying “free the animals.” Cromwell declared, “When will you stop raking in huge profits while customers, animals and the environment suffer? When will you stop penalizing people for their ethnicities, their morals?”
The protest was also accompanied by the chant “Save the planet, save the cows. Stop the vegan upcharge now!”
While some might not see plant-based milk as a big issue, it wasn’t only Cromwell who called for action to be taken as Paul McCartney, the iconic musician, also demanded Starbuck to stop charging more for the milk.
Instead of following in the steps of Cromwell and gluing himself to the counter of a Starbuck, McCarthy decided the pen was mightier than the sword. He wrote, “It recently came to my attention that Starbucks in the USA has an extra charge for plant-based milks as opposed to cow’s milk. I must say this surprised me as I understand that in other countries like U.K. and India, there is the same charge for both types of milk and I would like to politely request that you consider this policy also in Starbucks USA. My friends at PETA are campaigning for this to happen … I sincerely hope that for the future of the planet and animal welfare you are able to implement this policy.”