PETA’s “Hell on Wheels” Stops at El Centro McDonald’s to Protest Meat Industry

EL CENTRO, Calif. — Shoppers and diners in El Centro were met with a dramatic scene on Sunday, August 10, as PETA brought its “Hell on Wheels” truck to McDonald’s on South 4th Street.

The truck, designed to look like a real pig transport vehicle, played recordings of animals’ panicked screams and broadcasted a repeating message urging people to adopt vegan diets. The demonstration was intended to counter what PETA describes as misleading advertising portrayals of happy farm animals.

PETA representatives say they reached out to local restaurants, including McDonald’s, offering help in expanding vegan menu options. The group tied its campaign to growing public concern about alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to meat and dairy products.

“Most people object to cruelty to animals but may not think that behind every BLT and ham sandwich is a once-living, sensitive individual who was crammed onto a truck for a terrifying journey to their death,” said PETA President Tracy Reiman.

The protest was part of PETA’s broader “Every Animal Is Someone” campaign, which promotes vegan lifestyles and offers free starter kits at PETA.org