PETA asks Obama to skip 'outdated' turkey pardoning Thanksgiving ritual
Washington, Nov. 21 (ANI)
PETA has asked President Obama to forego the old fashioned annual tradition of pardoning a turkey, as they are not guilty of anything.
"The White House turkey 'pardon' is a sorely outdated event," Politico quoted PETA president Ingrid Newkirk as writing in a letter to the White House released on Tuesday.
"It makes light of the mass slaughter of some 46 million gentle, intelligent birds and portrays the United States' president as being in some sort of business partnership with the turkey-killing industry.
"Turkeys do not need to be 'pardoned'-they are not guilty of anything other than being born into a world of prejudice. They are innocents who should be respected for who they are: good mothers, smart birds, and interesting animals," she wrote.
The animal rights group also suggested a vegetarian alternative for the First Family to eat at their Thanksgiving celebration, the paper said.
"This year, we encourage you to forgo this event, which so many Americans find offensive, and choose a delicious, healthy Tofurky roast for your family's holiday table," she asked.
Obama will pardon either Cobbler or Gobbler at 1 PM on Wednesday, the publication added.