Despite Monday's blustery weather, representatives from the Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals donned bright yellow bikinis to protest animal cruelty in front of the KFC on West Main Street in Salem.

Lindsay Rajt, campaign coordinator with PETA, said the demonstration is part of a bigger tour of several Southern cities, including Lynchburg on Sunday, and Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn., today.

PETA is also heading to Pensacola, Fla., on Friday, and as far west as Little Rock, Ark., on Feb. 20.

"I work full time to get KFC to implement very basic standards for animal welfare," Rajt said.

While she and another PETA volunteer, Nicole Matthews, wore their bikinis, they received a lot of attention from passers-by, including someone who drove by and joined the protest.

Marty Wall, manager of KFCs in the Roanoke and New River valleys, said he has visited processing plants KFC uses in the area and has seen no signs of animal mistreatment.

"There are a lot more things in the world that energy could be put towards to complain about," Wall said.

Monday's protest -- while drawing some complaints from customers who objected to PETA "doing advertising using gratuitous" tactics -- didn't hurt business, Wall said.

"We are always busier during the PETA protests," he said. "Our clientele ... seem to come to our aid during these instances."

-- Miranda Puckett

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