WASHINGTON 鈥� Steamed crabs are a Maryland tradition, but they’re one that the animal-rights group PETA is trying to change.
There鈥檚 a big billboard in downtown Baltimore 鈥� sort of where the Inner Harbor meets Little Italy 鈥� with a big blue crab on it that says: 鈥淚鈥檓 ME, Not MEAT. See The Individual. Go Vegan.鈥�
鈥淧eople might not realize it right off the bat, but crabs and other aquatic animals are complex,鈥� said Amber Canavan, a spokeswoman for PETA. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e like us in many ways, including their ability to feel pain. So scientists have determined that crabs and other crustaceans, like all animals, feel pain.鈥�
PETA is known for being provocative about pushing animal rights and vegan messages.
鈥淚t was the perfect place to place this billboard and get this conversation going,鈥� said Canavan.聽 鈥淭his is obviously needed in Baltimore.鈥�
Not everyone agreed.
鈥淗ell no, it鈥檚 Maryland,鈥� said Sammie, who found the idea 鈥渁bsurd.鈥� Her friend likened it to the Chick-fil-A cows saying to eat more chicken.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why people come to Maryland 鈥� to eat seafood, blue crabs,鈥� he added.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a little comical,鈥� added Megan. 鈥淭his is a crab-loving city.鈥�
When asked about vegan seafood entrees 鈥� which Canavan said have 鈥減leasantly surprised鈥� people 鈥� Megan said it鈥檚 something she鈥檚 not willing to consider, nor would she expect any restaurants around here to do so either.
鈥淚 would not recommend it鈥� if they want to stay in business, she said flatly. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know what that would be.鈥�
Another woman, who didn鈥檛 want to give her name and was clearly annoyed by the suggestion coming from PETA, had this message:聽 鈥淲e鈥檝e got crime in Baltimore. Focus on that, not the crabs.
鈥淧ick your battle. Crabs aren鈥檛 one of them.鈥�
