October 28, 2003 -- "These are to let you know that chickens are our friends they're not our food. We don't eat our friends do we?" This was the message waiting for kids after class outside Basset Middle School today.

"It's just as morally wrong to be abusing a dog or a cat, as it is a chicken and we don't want to do that, do we?...When we eat?" A message handed out by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

They were encouraging kids to eat a vegetarian diet, and not eat chickens. As children flocked to hear the message, Peta without first contacting school officials or parents, talked to kids about this very political issue.

"Children have a natural empathy for animals and they deserve to know that chickens are being drugged and bred to grow so fast that their legs are crumpling beneath them," said Ravi Chand, with PETA.

District officials were concerned the demonstration would get out of hand. "Obviously the issue is an environmental issue. The issue is a nutritional issue and it has it's rightful place in discussion. However, what we're concerned with and to make sure that the safety of the school is maintained," said Luis Villalobos, spokesperson for EPISD.

The district called in extra security and police. Peta had to make sure to keep their agenda off school grounds, nonetheless for some kids, the message was very clear.

Meantime as parents picked up their children, many disagreed with the way Peta was handing out propaganda, altogether.

"That's not the way to do it. It's not the way to reach kids. Us as parents can even take this is as an offense because they're jumping over the authority of the kid, which is the parent," said Lulu Castro.