Nearly nude activists protest at KFC

Linda Powell is no spring chicken.

Which is why, outside the Kentucky Fried Chicken at South Nevada Avenue and Brookside Street on Friday, the 61-year-old Colorado Springs resident left the near nudity - women wearing panties and pasties behind a banner - to her younger PETA protester counterparts.

The protest, which has been held nationwide, was one of several scheduled in Colorado this week and in the coming days.

The idea, which rubbernecking commuters on Nevada Avenue showed works, is to bring the animal-rights organization's beef with KFC to the streets.

"I just think it is key that people know the facts," said Powell, who became a vegetarian three years ago after researching the treatment of animals in the food chain. "From there they can make their own decision."

The facts, according to PETA, are that KFC's suppliers mistreat to the point of torture the chickens that are eventually paired with mashed potatoes and biscuits at restaurants across the country.

"KFC is committed to the well-being and humane treatment of chickens," KFC spokesperson Rick Maynard wrote in an e-mail. "While we don't own any poultry facilities, we require all of our suppliers to follow welfare guidelines developed by us with leading experts on our Animal Welfare Advisory Council. We don't comment on PETA's activities and publicity stunts, which speak for themselves."

PETA is asking KFC to take steps to remedy the conditions in which the chickens its suppliers raise are handled, said Ashley Byrne, a staffer with National PETA who has traveled the country to stand nearly naked on street corners touting the message.

"This is the only thing that could get me to do this," Byrne said after the police had come and she put her strapless dress and flip flops back on. "Even fully clothed, the footage on our Web site and in these DVDs that we're handing out speak to the people."

Byrne and her fellow protesters were not ticketed. What little they were wearing was enough to stay within the law.

Asked Friday if she was wearing sunscreen, Byrne said, "Always."