53,000 Voices for Animals Face Hostility at Denny’s Headquarters

Today, December 11th, Animal Equality is in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to carry out actions against restaurant giant Denny’s. Representatives from the organization, including President Sharon Núñez, traveled from various parts of the country to stage a demonstration at the Denny’s headquarters in downtown Spartanburg.

In front of members of the press, the advocates attempted to deliver a message inside the headquarters. They were immediately faced with a confrontational employee. This staff member refused to accept a hand-delivered box from peaceful advocates, which contained a letter representing 53,000 messages from concerned consumers. These customers have been writing the company for over eleven months regarding the lack of protections for pregnant pigs in Denny’s supply chain.

Upon entering the building, the hostile employee was already on a call, seemingly with law enforcement. He would not let the demonstrators speak with anyone else and demanded for them to leave. When asked if he would accept the thousands of messages from concerned customers, he refused.

Unfortunately, after eleven months of campaigning, thousands of messages from concerned consumers and citizens, [and] dozens of companies moving away from gestation crates, we have been aggressively asked to leave Denny’s headquarters. We are nothing more than peaceful protestors who want to end cruelty towards animals.

–Sharon Núñez, President of Animal Equality

This demonstration is part of a nationwide campaign urging Denny’s to fulfill its public commitment to eliminate the use of “gestation crates” in its supply chain. The company made a pledge in 2012, promising to end the controversial practice of confining pregnant pigs. Despite telling its customers for the past ten years that it was on track towards its pledge, Denny’s recently removed the policy from its website entirely.

The unfulfilled commitment sparked nationwide outrage, leading to nearly a dozen protests in major cities and over 53,000 messages sent by consumers. The only “response” from Denny’s was an offensive gesture from the son of a Denny’s executive during a recent protest in Kansas City.

Animal Equality will remain in Spartanburg until Wednesday, December 13th, conducting other peaceful demonstrations throughout the town, including one in front of Denny’s on Reidville Road today, December 11th, at 5 PM Eastern. A mobile billboard featuring a pig in a gestation crate has been circulating around the city for a week, while a static billboard has appeared above Spartanburg’s only Denny’s restaurant.

How You Can Help

1. Comment or respond to Denny’s social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
2. Voice your concerns by calling your local Denny’s, asking them to join other industry giants in taking significant steps for mother pigs. 
3. Email board members and express your concerns for pigs trapped in Denny’s supply chain. 

Most importantly, you can take action for animals at the dinner table tonight. By choosing plant proteins over meat, dairy, and eggs, you can create a demand for wholesome, fresh, compassionate foods.