Milwaukee Residents Outraged Over Proposed Slaughterhouse, Plan to Disrupt Tuesday’s Common Council Meeting

October 14, 2019, Milwaukee, WI–Local residents and members of the grassroots networks Slaughter Free Milwaukee and Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) voice opposition to meat supplier Strauss Brands’ plans to open a slaughterhouse facility in the Century City Business Park.

According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, a $4.5 million Milwaukee grant has been approved for Strauss Brands to move its headquarters from Franklin to Century City Business Park near 31st Street and West Capitol Drive. The facility would slaughter 500 cows every day starting in 2021.

“Slaughterhouses create many detrimental consequences and immediate impacts on neighborhoods, particularly disadvantaged ones,” says activist Amy Zignego. “Pollution and stench arise, vulnerable workers are exposed to brutality which can lead to post traumatic stress disorder, violence increases in the surrounding areas and impacts property values.”

Members of Slaughter Free Milwaukee and DxE have been having conversations with concerned residents, most of whom were not even aware of this facility to open in their own neighborhood.

Residents believe that slaughterhouse work is among the most exploitative, dangerous and relatively low paid work in the market. Century City would be better served by any other business, including incubators to support small, local businesses which better serve residents in the long run. In addition, the damaging effects on the environment must be taken into consideration for home and business owners who ultimately would be burdened with them.

Many cities, including Chicago, are moving away from having slaughterhouses within city limits for a variety of reasons such as zoning and health code violations as well as concerns for the community’s overall well-being. According to Robert Grillo, founder of Slaughter Free Chicago, “Slaughterhouse jobs are the worst jobs the city could possibly bring to the city. Slaughterhouses are bad for animals, workers, communities, and the planet. Does anyone in City Hall realize we are facing a climate emergency?”

Residents plan to attend the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, October 15 to demand that the vote be delayed and that public hearings be scheduled. Residents will put pressure on city officials and will consider legal options to that end.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.