NIU students, Sycamore residents and others undertook a two-mile walk to inform people of the issues concerning factory farming Sunday at 1 p.m.

Jon Bockman, Sycamore walk coordinator, said he organized the walk as part of the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade, for the Farm Sanctuary organization to raise money for the maltreatment of farm animals.

“I want to raise awareness of the way modern environment culture raises its animals,” he said.

The two-mile walk took place in the Sycamore Pumpkin Parade as participants walked along with the Farm Sanctuary float.

Vegan baked goods and literature were given out, and a raffle was held before the walk began.

Adrian Seeley, senior double major in philosophy and psychology and the president of the NIU’s Vegetarian Education Group (VEG), said the Farm Sanctuary is a nationwide organization that is dedicated to raising awareness about factory farming.

“It serves to educate people on the origin of the meat they purchase,” Seeley said. “Farm Sanctuary is one of the many organizations striving to change animal husbandry laws so as to protect animals from the inhumane treatment that is routine on farms today. There are walks held all over the state and country.”

The organization also focuses on rescues, and provides animal’s survivor stories from the industry such as the rescue of 100 pigs in New York she said.

“The pigs were starving outside, some even frozen to the ground, and over 1,500 hens stuck in battery cages thrown about when the warehouse that they were in was hit by a tornado,” Seeley said.

Mylan Engel, associate professor of philosophy and advisor for VEG, said the walkers for Farm Sanctuary were hoping to get the attention of those who attended to think about where their food comes from.

“[We want them] to think about and make conscious choices in the direction of compassionate sustainable food choices,” Engel said.

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