A group protesting the consumption of animal products vandalized the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair.
Iowans for Animal Liberation took responsibility for pouring red paint over the sculpture and painting "Freedom for all" on the window of the Butter Cow display at the state fair in Des Moines. The group included a photo with admissions of guilt for the vandalism it sent to various media outlets.
"The paint represents the blood of 11 billion animals murdered each year in slaughterhouses, egg farms and dairies," said a statement included with the photo.
Group members reportedly hid in the Agriculture Building at the fairgrounds and then broke into the Butter Cow display after the fair closed Saturday night, August 10, 2013.
Sculptor Sarah Pratt found the vandalism and she was reportedly able to clean up the sculpture before the fair reopened to visitors the next day.
Iowa State Police were investigating the vandalism.
