Just after 1PM today PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) activists stationed at the first circle and a large crowd that had gathered around were broken up by police for apparently not obtaining the proper security permits for the demonstration. The crowd of mostly men had gathered in the center of the circle where a woman was slowly covering herself in lettuce leaves, carrying a sign that read “Let Vegetarianism Grow on You.” As apparent from the line of sight of many of the men in the first photo above, what was underneath the lettuce was of much more interest.

Police officers at the scene refused to comment, but according to at least two journalists present the demonstration was forcibly ended because PETA had not obtained the proper security permits from the Department of the Interior. The brief commotion effectively halted traffic on the circle. The “lettuce lady” and her PETA cohorts were ushered into The Diplomat Restaurant while the crowd dispersed.

Photo credit Nader Daoud