Butter cow vandalized in animal rights protest

Monday, August 12, 2013

Vandalized butter cow at Iowa State Fair

In this photo provided by Iowans for Animal Liberation is the 2013 butter cow at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. Authorities confirmed Monday, Aug. 12, 2013, that people had gained access to the display, poured red paint over the butter sculpture and scrawled, "Freedom for all," on a display window. Police said the damage was cleaned up quickly Sunday morning and the display opened as usual. (AP Photo/Iowans for Animal Liberation)

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DES MOINES, IA -- An animal welfare group poured red paint over the Iowa State Fair's butter cow, but the damage was quickly scraped away and the iconic sculpture is back on display.

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Iowans for Animal Liberation, which promotes veganism, claimed responsibility in a Sunday news release, saying the paint represents the millions of animals killed annually for food.

The Iowa State Patrol says the attack occurred overnight Saturday after someone broke into the locked refrigerated area of the Agriculture Building where the sculpted cow is displayed. The attackers poured red paint over the sculpture and scrawled, "Freedom for all," on a display window.

Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Scott Bright says the damage was cleaned up quickly Sunday morning and that the display opened as usual.

Bright called it a "mild case of vandalism."

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