LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- An animal activist group said the city of Louisville, Ky., is keeping it from displaying a 5 1/2-foot statue of a bloodied chicken on crutches.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it wants to erect the statue that includes the words: "KFC Cripples Chickens" for three months to protest Kentucky Fried Chicken's methods of handling and butchering its animals, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal reported Sunday.
James Mims, director of the city's department of codes and regulations, said the city has not denied PETA's request but the group has not appropriately applied for a permit.
PETA attorney Martina Bernstein said the group originally applied for a permit in July, before permit laws were changed.
The new permit laws require neighboring businesses to OK the display, violating PETA's First Amendment right to free speech, Bernstein said.
PETA's original application met all existing requirements for temporary structures at the time, and should have gone through the city's permit process before the new rules were written, Bernstein said.
"We will consider all options, whatever it takes" to get the statue up, PETA campaign coordinator Kristina Addington said.
KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow called the statue "yet another despicable publicity stunt that we hope the city will have the good sense to disapprove."
