PETA turns to Sasha, Malia to end 'offensive turkey pardon'

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals isn’t a fan of the annual tradition of the president pardoning a turkey before Thanksgiving, and is turning to Sasha and Malia Obama to put an end to it altogether.

PETA wants them to urge their father to stop the “offensive turkey pardon.”

In a letter, PETA suggested the family follow their “values,” according to The Hill.

“You come from a family whose members don’t hesitate to fight for those who have been oppressed by standing up for civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBT rights,” Rachelle Owena, a senior manager at PETA, wrote to the daughters.

“Obviously, you’re familiar with the horrible ways that people often treat others who are viewed as ‘different’ simply because of superficial physical differences or cruel traditions. This year, we would like to ask you to lend your powerful and influential voices to another group whose voices often go unheard: animals.”

The letter suggests the Obama instead feast on “tofurky,” a tofu-based replacement.

“No animal wants to die, and if turkeys could, they would beg for your family to pardon not one but all of them from a lifetime of suffering and a violent, terrifying death,” Owen wrote in her letter.

It’s not the first time PETA has made such a plea. Last year, the group appealed directly to the president.

Going after the “turkey pardon” altogether is a bit of a turnaround from PETA’s stance in 2009, when it gave Sasha and Malia an honorary membership to PETA Kids for their participation in saving that year’s turkey, “Courage.”

h/t: The Hill