While some of Chicago retail slaughterhouses have closed in response to the Illinois state order, 8 of them remain open. We urge Governor Pritzker to immediately order them closed due to the public health threat they pose.

In normal times these slaughterhouses present a public health threat to the densely-populated communities in which they operate. They routinely run afoul of public health, sanitation and environmental laws, such as the 200ft restriction, slaughtering in buildings in which only a wall or ceiling separates them from other residents and businesses. It is common to find blood, feces, and feathers splattered all over the walls and floors and dead and sick animals languishing in filthy, overcrowded cages stacked  to the ceilings.

Given the spirit of the state order to protect public health, it would be irresponsible to allow these businesses to continue to endanger Chicago communities. They are not essential. Quite the contrary, such live retail slaughter markets are responsible for the spread of Coronavirus, as the CDC has confirmed. And The World Health Organization states that “the greatest risk for zoonotic disease transmission occurs at the human-animal interface through direct or indirect human exposure to animals, their products (e.g. meat, milk, eggs...) and/or their environments.”  

Please urge Pritzker to shut these slaughterhouses down immediately, for the benefit of workers, communities, animals and the planet! You may also send him a message directly from his website. When you click to the next screen, you will find a sample message script.