Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, Cows, Dehorn, Los Angeles Unified School District, PETA

Animal Activists Distributed Graphic Comic Book To School Kids

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:00:27 -0600

According to the L.A. Daily News a group of students at Calabash Charter Academy were preparing for a visit from a diary cow when they were handed a colorful comic book. The comic depicted a cow being injected with growth hormones, graphic images of a bull being dehorned and a diary cow with an infected udder.

Parents were horrified by the contents of the comic, feeling it was no appropriate for the young children. One parent claimed the books were being given out by volunteers asking the kids if they want a comic that shows a cows life.

The comic came from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and was coordinated by one of the parents who is an outspoken volunteer for the organisation. The Los Angeles Unified School Board claims they were unaware of the protest They issued an official press release about the incident:

L.A. UNIFIED'S STATEMENT ON GRAPHIC IMAGES OF COWS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS DURING ANIMAL ACTIVIST PROTEST

A cow and a calf, part of a mobile classroom provided by the Dairy Council of California, were bought on the campus of Calabash Charter Academy in Woodland Hills last week. This instructional presentation is approved by L.A. Unified, and has been presented previously at the elementary school without incident.

No one at the school, or the District knew that animal activists would give children a comic book containing graphic images inserted of cows with a sore; an infection; chained and covered with fecal matter. The pictures are inappropriate for elementary students.

Principal Esther Gillis would never have authorized the distribution of those pictures or the message that milk is unhealthy. L.A. Unified is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment at our schools."

A spokesman for PETA, Katie Arth, said the organization was contacted by the parent volunteers who wanted to show some concerns about the dairy industry at the same time of the planned dairy event. She noted, however, that the more graphic images were not intended for children and should not have been inserted into the comic book.

"We've worked with educators to create the comic book, to present some of the other side of the dairy industry in a way that is age appropriate," Arth said. "We regret that happened, It was simply a mistake made by volunteers."

Seems PETA has a whole line of comic books to get their point across, aiming at young children.