Screaming animal rights protesters storm the gates of the Melbourne Cup
Dramatic scenes have erupted at the Melbourne Cup as screaming animal rights protesters are arrested after storming the gates of Flemington Racecourse.
A group of animal rights activists marched up to the venue around 10am on Tuesday – just hours before the major horse race is due to kick off.
A video posted online shows a woman chanting ‘say nup to the cup!’ as one of her fellow demonstrators is escorted out of a car park by police.
Another photo shows at least five protesters dressed in black sitting in a patch of grass as officers place them in handcuffs.
The incident comes after members from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) staged a Squid Game -themed protest outside the racecourse on Monday.
PETA’s Mimi Bekhech said the demonstrators dressed as characters from hit Netflix series to draw comparisons between the plot of the show and the cruel treatment of horses in the racing industry.
‘In Squid Game, the participants’ lives are gambled on, but at least they get to choose whether they want to play or not,’ she said.
‘Horses used in the Melbourne Cup are forced to race, whipped to the finish line, and discarded when no longer profitable.’
Eight horses have died following the Melbourne Cup event in the past nine years.
Last year Anthony Van Dyck was putdown after fracturing his fetlock during the race.
More to come.
Advertisement