By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A quiet noon hour at the 14th and Main Dillons was disrupted by PETA protesters Thursday.
Three protesters arrived in a white rental van just before noon. Marley Delgado, Luis Correal and a member who wished to remain anonymous unloaded two wheelbarrows filled with coconuts.
Correal and the anonymous supporter were dressed in monkey outfits to protest Chaokoh, a brand that PETA says uses monkeys to inhumanely pick coconuts in Thailand.
PETA supporter Marley Delgado said the trio was there "urging the company to stop profiting off forced monkey labor." Delgado says a PETA Asia investigation found the coconut industry is using monkey labor to pick the coconuts and traced it back to Chaokoh. The group is asking Kroger to remove the brand from all of its stores.
The Dillons location was blindsided. The manager on duty was simply covering for a store that currently does not have a manager. The manager on duty called the local media contact, Sheila Regehr, and she began her journey to the store.
"Dillons supports cruel monkey labor," the trio chanted. "There's no excuse for animal abuse," they added.
Shoppers were surprised to see the disruption. One shopper who wishes to remain anonymous called it a waste of time. "I don't want to lose my fuel points!" the shopper said when asked for a name. He questioned why the demonstration was not at the courthouse or a distribution center.
Supporters chose the Main Street location because it faced a busy street and had a public sidewalk that entered the store.
PETA plans to visit more Kroger-owned stores until it joins the likes of 28,000 other stores that have stopped profiting off cruel, forced monkey labor.
"The coconuts that are in Chaokoh are picked by monkeys who are stolen from their families just as babies. They're kept caged and chained their whole lives. They can sometimes have their canine teeth removed so they're unable to defend themselves. And they are forced to pick coconuts all during the harvest season," Delgado said.
None of the protesters are from Hutchinson. In fact, none of them are from Kansas. Delgado is from Denver, Colorado, while Correal is from Atlanta, Georgia. The unnamed member hails from Portland, Oregon. The trio arrived in Hutchinson Wednesday and purchased the ethically-sourced coconuts that were picked humanely, then scattered in front of the Dillons entrance.
Delgado confirmed the group would pick up the coconuts after the demonstration. She said the coconuts would then be donated.
About 30 minutes into the planned one-hour demonstration, Sheila Regehr of Dillons showed up on the scene. She kindly asked the protesters to move the demonstration to a public place.
Regehr declined to comment on the situation until a proper statement could be released to the media.
Around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Regehr released the following statement:
“Kroger has a longstanding commitment to responsible business practices, including the humane treatment of animals. We have re-engaged our suppliers, as well as other stakeholders, on this issue to re-confirm they are also protecting animal welfare.”