PETA ‘Mouse’ to Call Out Cruel Animal Tests Outside CNN Presidential Debate

For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2024

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Washington –

“Cut NIH’s $22 Billion Budget, Not Me!” That’s the message that PETA’s “mouse” will deliver on Thursday to attendees at the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle in Atlanta by calling on the candidates to commit to ending the National Institutes of Health’s wasteful funneling of billions in tax money every year into antiquated experiments on animals that have continued for decades with no oversight or results. The campaigner will draw attention to the fact that the agency squanders nearly half its annual budget on animal experiments—even though 90% of basic research has been shown to fail to lead to effective treatments for humans and 95% of new drugs that test safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials, as well as causing serious side effects such as anaphylaxis or even death.

Where: Near the intersection of 10^th and Fowler streets N.W., Atlanta (See the Google Maps link here.)

When: Thursday, June 27, 7:30 p.m.

“NIH is squandering our country’s resources by propping up a broken system that wastes critical time and money tormenting animals in experiments shown to be scientifically worthless,” says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “PETA calls on both candidates to redirect taxpayer funds to cutting-edge, non-animal research that could actually yield treatments and cures for humans.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Note: PETA supports animal rights and opposes all forms of animal exploitation and educates the public on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party.