A “Vegetarian Act” of Vandalism Strikes Boucherie Grinder

While Saint-Henri has seen attacks concerning anti-gentrification for several years, Griffintown is now facing other issues of aggressive activism — most recently, anti-meat protestors.

On Wednesday morning this week, the butcher shop Boucherie Grinder was struck with two bricks by assailants. The display windows which house the shop’s ornately-hung meats in full view were not broken, only receiving marks, due to the strength of the glass. The only clue as to the cause of the attack came from messages which were tied to the projectiles, approximately translated here:

“This is a vegetarian act. We consider your hideous and infectious establishment requires a long and ostensible intervention. Cease the mutilation and sale of non-human animals. Starting today, June 27th, 2017, more and more specialized institutions like yours will be vandalized in Montreal. Thank you for understanding that animals, like humans, are not for sale. Together for a 100% vegetarian future.

In an interview with Le Journal de Montréal, the associate owner and master butcher of the store Charles Bizeul found the direction of the anger misplaced. “We’re a small neighbourhood butchery that strives to be healthy,” he explained, going on to note that the shop works with “local products and small farms where the animals are well treated.” Noting that the display of meat is intended to sensitize customers to their products, Bizeul adds the Boucherie Grinder wants “people to be aware of what they have on their plate, that it doesn’t come (as pre-packaged) steaks.”

In a follow-up response posted online, Boucherie Grinder felt it necessary to clarify that this instance is more vandalism than vegetarianism. “It is true that Boucherie Grinder ostentatiously exposes the meat,” the post reads. “This is part of a consumer education process to break with the depersonalization of meat, sold today in the form of immediately consumable food and not as living beings which deserve respect from everyone as we try to promote it.”

While the butchery believes that it is far easier to strike at small businesses — as opposed to large retailers in a “harmful search for profit” — to make a point, strongly-opinionated individuals may be better served to “engage in real action against those involved in the deterioration of animal living conditions,” according to the response. The post goes to detail that the “cultivation of protein sources such as tofu, quinoa and others, essential to human life, are the cause of a mass perdition of ecological capital. The harm suffered by ecosystems is unprecedented. Even the organic labeling (has no rhyme or reason) anymore because of the overflow following its commercial expansion.”

There has been no word yet as to whether or not other butchers in Montreal have been attacked, as pledged in the messages. This isn’t the first time local businesses have been subject to vandalism in the city, as the Portuguese restaurant 3734 had white paint flung at its windows less than two weeks ago, and the bar Ludger was attacked during service in the last week of May. Nor has this been the first time a butchery has been the subject of aggression from activists, as Marc Bourg, owner of Marchand du Bourg in Rosemont, was being harassed online earlier this year.

• Une boucherie vandalisée par des végétariens [Le Journal de Montréal]
• Butcher says he's being harassed by anti-meat activists [CTV News Montreal]
• St-Henri Portuguese Restaurant Gets Paint-Bombed [EMTL]
• Ludger Gets Love From St-Henri After Window Smashing Incident [EMTL]
• Boucherie Grinder [Official website]
• Grinder Butcher Shop Carves a New Niche in Griffintown [EMTL]