Animal rights activists detained in South Korea over demonstration about vegetarianism

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

SEOUL — Police detained two scantily clad female animal rights activists for staging an unauthorized protest near the Group of 20 summit in South Korea’s capital, a police officer said Tuesday.

The activists -- wearing shorts and bras and painted from head to toe to resemble planet Earth -- jumped out of a black van near the venue Tuesday and held signs promoting vegetarianism.

Police officers quickly threw blankets over the women and escorted them into a police vehicle.

“Save the planet, go vegetarian!” Ashley Fruno, a 24-year-old Canadian who is a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, shouted as officers hauled her away from a crowd of photographers and cameramen.

Fruno and Han sae-mi, a 33-year-old South Korean member of the Seoul-based Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth, were under investigation, said police officer Park Ho-hyun, declining to give further details.

South Korea has banned demonstrations within a 1.24-mile (2-kilometer) radius of the summit this week as part of security measures for the two-day gathering of G-20 leaders, including President Obama.

Demonstrators pressing for workers’ rights plan to hold a major rally to mark the start of the summit on Thursday, said labor activist Lee Chang-geun.

RELATED PETA NEWS:
PETA offers to help foot Lindsay Lohan’s rehab bill if she goes vegan
Animal rights activist advocating vegetarianism in a lettuce gown is briefly held in Jordan

-- Associated Press