Angry shoppers have taken out their frustration on animal rights activists blocking their way into a supermarket, attempting to break in with their trolleys.
Customers have been praised online for their defiant response to Animal Rising activists who staged a sit-in protest in the meat aisle of a busy Sainsbury’s store.
Calls of ‘Who do you think you are?’ and ‘You move, well I’ll get you out of the way’ are heard in TikTok videos of the confrontation that were shared online.
TO 65 second clip It shows members of the animal rights group organizing the demonstration at a branch of Sainsbury’s in the Portswood district of Southampton last Saturday afternoon.
That was just one of several Animal Rising protests across the country that day, which also targeted Marks and Spencer outlets.
The group wanted to draw attention to complaints it has made about the RSPCA Assured farming system which approves meat products sold by supermarket chains.
BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham resigned as president of the RSPCA last month as concerns were raised about alleged “cruelty to animals”.
However, there has been praise for shoppers seen trying to push their way through the sit-ins, while the police were called but decided to take no further action.
Were YOU involved in the confrontation in the Sainsbury’s meat aisle? Email Aidan.radnedge.mol@mailonline.co.uk
Shoppers were seen preventing them from pushing their trolleys during a sit-in protest by campaign group Animal Rising at a branch of Sainsbury’s in the Portswood district of Southampton.

In images shared on TikTok, a man is seen trying to move forward with his cart.
A group of seven Animal Rising activists sat cross-legged on the floor of the Portswood Sainsbury’s meat aisle for more than an hour at around 1.30pm on Saturday.
They brandished banners displaying messages aimed at the RSPCA Assured scheme and refused to give way when shoppers tried to push their way through.
A man pushing a cart and finally trying to get through the blockade told protesters: “I’ve asked you several times, I’ve asked you nicely.”
And he added: ‘Who do you think you are? I want to stop by here.’
Online footage shows a shopper telling protesters who blocked her way: “No, I’m not going to turn around, you guys move.”
“Well, then I’ll get you out of the way with my cart.”
One of the Animal Rising members responds by saying, “We’re here to protest, to make a point.”
The clip shows a member of Sainsbury’s staff approaching the group, and online viewers have questioned why the store didn’t appear to do more to resolve the situation.

The shopper is heard telling the protesters: “I’ve asked you several times, I’ve asked you nicely,” before asking: “Who do you think you are?”
Comments under the TikTok video that was shared by a poster using the name @vegan.fairy.x included “Well done that man” and “Let people shop in peace.”
One sign said of the Animal Rising protesters: ‘You bunch of morons, you’re not protesting.
“You’re choosing to make life difficult for people because you don’t agree with something.”
Another wrote: “I honestly LONG to meet people like that, my anger issues would get such relief.”
There were other responses like: “The old man is right: get out of the way”, “Why don’t they remove them from the supermarket?” and ‘Get out of the way, have some respect for your elders.’
But the video’s original poster defended the Animal Rising demonstration, insisting that “peaceful protests are legal here” and “won’t make us stop caring about animals.”
Her caption attached to the TikTok upload read: ‘The protest was held by an animal rights group standing up to highlight the cruelty ensured by the RSPCA.
“Congratulations to these incredible activists for standing strong.”










TikTok commenters criticized the protesters and praised the shoppers in front of them, but the original poster in the footage responded by defending the sit-in.
The campaign group today told MailOnline that similar sit-ins took place between 1pm and 4pm last Saturday in other locations including Birmingham, Chelmsford, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Nottingham, Eastbourne and Gloucester.
Rose Patterson, lead researcher at Animal Rising, said: “We encourage all distributors of RSPCA Assured products to reconsider their connections to this scheme.
‘Our investigations have shown that, whether on the farm or in the slaughterhouse, cruelty is endemic within the Assured system. It’s time for the RSPCA to remove the Assured label forever and instead lead the way to a kinder future for all animals.
‘The plan is not worth the paper its labels are printed on. Shoppers who want to buy ethically do not expect the RSPCA to support factory farms, and supermarkets bear some of the responsibility when so much evidence has been brought to light about the truth behind RSPCA Assured.
“Not only has the Assured program failed in its goal of protecting farm animals, but through its endorsement and advertising of a false, idyllic farming environment, it is actively causing more harm by persuading consumers that the breeding and slaughter can be humane.
Hampshire Police said they were aware of the protest at Sainsbury’s in Portswood, adding: “Local officers attended the area in the early afternoon.” However, there were no issues that required further police intervention.’
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘Last week the police were called to an incident which took place at our Southampton Portswood store. We regret the temporary disruption this may have caused to some customers.’
Wildlife campaigner Packham resigned last month as RSPCA chair after an investigation uncovered allegations of animal abuse at charity-approved slaughterhouses, while former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas resigned as deputy chair of the RSPCA. the charity organization.

Wildlife campaigner Chris Packham resigned last month as chairman of the RSPCA after an investigation uncovered allegations of animal abuse at charity-approved abattoirs.

RSPCA deputy chair Caroline Lucas, who was also leader of the Green Party, also resigned from her role amid the claims.
The pair took to
His departure came after an Animal Rising investigation made allegations of cruelty at “safe” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, and the campaign group shared images of alleged mistreatment.
‘RSPCA Assured’ is a scheme whereby approved farms must meet the organisation’s ‘strictest welfare standards’, according to its website.
Last June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms into its assurance scheme, which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to ensure animal welfare on member farms.
Following the images published by Animal Rising in December, the RSPCA said it was “horrified” by what was shown and launched an immediate investigation along with suspending three abattoirs from the scheme.
Packham had previously threatened to resign after images emerged of salmon swimming without tails and pieces of their bodies missing at an RSPCA Assured facility in Scotland.
At the time, last July, he signaled that unless changes were made to the way welfare was implemented, he would likely resign as president of the organization.
Later in August, footage alleged staff beating pigs with paddles in their ‘terror-filled final moments’ at an RSPCA-approved abattoir in Suffolk.

Video secretly filmed at an RSPCA-certified abattoir in Suffolk called C&K Meats showed staff hitting pigs with paddles in “final terror-filled moments” before they were slaughtered for meat.
The footage was recorded by Animal Justice Project (AJP) activists inside C&K Meats in 2023.
Other accusations leveled against the slaughterhouse included poor hygiene practices and evidence of indicators of severe stress among animals, such as foaming at the mouth and intense panting.
The abattoir, which has the capacity to kill between 1,200 and 1,400 pigs a day, insisted it was “committed to ensuring high levels of animal welfare and taking the issue very seriously”.
In the wake of last month’s resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it was “simply not true” that the organization had not taken urgent action.
The RSPCA commissioned an independent review which last October ruled the Assured scheme was “operating effectively” to ensure animal welfare on member farms, the charity said today.
A spokesperson added: “We have commissioned two independent reviews of the scheme in the space of four years, both of which show that RSPCA Assured is making a real difference to the lives of millions of farm animals right now.”
‘This reflects our own data from visiting almost 4,000 farms in the last year.
‘This review gives us, our supporters and the public greater confidence that RSPCA Assured is actively improving the lives of millions of farm animals.

Chris Packham took to X to express his ‘sadness’ following his resignation from the RSPCA

RSPCA vice president Caroline Lucas also made a statement on social media about her departure.
‘We want a world where RSPCA Assured is no longer needed but right now it is the last line of defense for many of the most vulnerable and exploited animals.
‘No one else does this work – we are the only organization that sets and regularly monitors animal welfare standards on farms.
‘Improving farm animal welfare is difficult, but RSPCA Assured has given us the experience and knowledge to influence government and the food and farming industry to drive critical changes in law and practice, as well as raising the bar. for the entire agricultural industry.
“We will continue to campaign alongside our industry colleagues for better legal protections for farmed animals, better enforcement of those protections and a significant reduction in the number of farmed animals and animal products consumed.”