Downtown Petaluma’s iconic Butter & Egg Days Parade faced a brief disruption last Saturday when five animal rights activists from Direct Action Everywhere staged a surprise protest.
The Petaluma Argus-Courier reports the group, including one member dressed as a blood-soaked cow, intercepted the procession near Walnut Park to target Clover Sonoma and Petaluma Poultry.
While organizers claim the parade chair was covered in fake blood during a confrontation, activists maintain they walked peacefully until police intervened. Spectators reportedly voiced their frustration as officers removed the group near Western Avenue to allow the floats to continue. Local officials confirmed that despite the tension, no injuries were reported and no arrests were made.
Organizers criticized the stunt as a violation of the event’s non-political spirit, while activists promised further investigations into local agricultural practices.