Protesters Arrested After Gluing Hands To Starbucks Counter In Chicago

CHICAGO, IL — A Starbucks in downtown Chicago closed midday Wednesday after two men protesting upcharges for vegan milk glued their hands to the coffee shop counter and were eventually arrested, according to reports.

"Starbucks at 200 S Michigan is closing right now due to a protest by PETA," FOX 32 News producer Perri Stewart said in a tweet just after 11 a.m., which was accompanied by footage of police clearing out the business.

A livestream of the protest published on Facebook by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals showed the men, one of whom identified himself as a Buddhist monk, supergluing their hands to the counter.

“No one, and I mean no one, should be penalized for choosing sustainable options” one of the men said as he announced the protest to customers in the shop.

The protesters were glued to the counter for over an hour, according to PETA. One man held a sign that read, "Starbucks: End the vegan upcharge," and another wore a shirt that said, "end vegan milk upcharge."

Police responded to the Starbucks location about 10:15 a.m., according to law enforcement, and took the men, ages 31 and 42, into custody. Neither was injured, police said. Both are being charged with criminal trespassing, according to PETA.

A Starbucks spokesperson said the company treats in-store demonstrators as customers first, but will change its approach if protestors become disruptive or destructive. The spokesperson noted PETA has been present in Starbucks locations many times without incident.

Starbucks stores in the U.S. typically charge between 50 cents and $1 more for plant-based milk, according to The Associated Press, which reported that actor James Cromwell glued his hand to a Starbucks counter last month as part of a similar protest in Manhattan.