Let the chanting begin......
“The blood, the blood, the blood is on your hands”
“Stop the killing - Go Veg!”
“Don’t eat our friends!”
On a gloriously beautiful Sunday afternoon, waves of vegetarians, vegans, and even a few buddhist monks are parading towards Union Square for the 1 pm rally. I find them exactly where the parade route said they would be. But lets be honest, its not going to be hard to find a parade is it?
Honey LeBronx, an attractive transvestite in a gorgeous purple dress that I was jealous of, proudly held the megaphone leading a string of pro-vegetarian chants. Friendly vegetarians passed out flyers and information to people flocking to watch the spectacle. Smiles abounded as parade goers waved and showed off their fun costumes. People dressed as bananas, axe wielding bloody cows, strawberries, funky chickens, and I even saw an artichoke. One woman cleverly wore a purple leotard and attached purple balloons transforming herself into grapes. Kudos to all for a job well done on the costumes.
Yes, we all do bleed red
The rally kicked off with speakers thumping a song called “Get Your Green On” by Christie Hill. One woman sang along since she already knew the lyrics.....which I found rather odd since no one else did. But repeating “get your green on” for the chorus was pretty darn catchy and inspired the mascots Chris P. Carrot and Penelo Pea Pod to start dancing the Macarena.
Chris P. Carrot and Penelo Pea Pod
The Emcee announced that over 40 exhibitors were on site including the Humane Society of the United States, Natural Kitchen Cooking School, PeTA, and the American Vegan Society.
I saw a number of women walking around with signs saying “Ask a Vegan.” I’m not sure what you were supposed to ask, but some found there way in front of media doing interviews.
Vendors were also on site handing out free, organic, and possibly vegan empanadas, bread, rice crispy treats with melted chocolate on top, and what appeared to be chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I couldn’t get near the food tables with a ten foot pole since those happy vegetarians were feverishly hungry and swarmed over the food. One man said the chocolate cake was good but not very sweet. I smirked and said it’s probably lacking in sugar....and butter.
A dancing chicken
After a set of horrendous (I mean enthusiastic) original songs by Leif Eric concluded, a series of speakers were scheduled to educate, inform and rally the crowd. The costume contest was later on and I’m sure that would have been a riot to watch, but seeing lots of people dressed as fruits and vegetables got my stomach rumbling and I left in search of non animal based sustenance.
And I’d like to say it here first, that adding a vegetarian/vegan cook off competition to the day’s activities would be a smart move for next year.
Dressed in black with black bandanas on their faces, the
Animal Liberation Front were more militant looking
Pigs: They Ain't For Eatin' so says the small sign
P.S. this is my 100th post. Hooray!
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