Slaughterville rejects vegetarian name change

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (AP) -- A truckload of veggie burgers wasn't enough to get a small Oklahoma town to change its name to Veggieville.

Members of Slaughterville's town council amicably heard presentations by members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals before voting against the suggestion Tuesday night.

PETA officials contend the current name conjures up images of violence against animals.

"It was almost as if it was a comedy hour," said Ravi Chand, PETA's campaign coordinator, who is also a corporal in the U.S. Marines and an Iraq War veteran.

"They didn't applaud at my speech, but they did applaud the fact that I was a U.S. Marine."

More than a dozen people at the standing room only meeting offered opinions on why the town should keep its name, said Chand, of Sacramento, California.

Residents of the town of 3,600 point out that the town was named after a grocery store run by James Slaughter in the early part of the 20th century.

PETA had promised $20,000 in veggie burgers to the local school district if it agreed to a name change.

Before the meeting PETA gave away veggie burgers but residents of Slaughterville gave away hot dogs and held up signs that said, "Beef, it's what's for dinner."