SOUTH SALT LAKE — With the smell of his secret herbs and spices floating in the air, animal rights activists tried without success to barbecue Colonel Sanders.

"It's surprisingly difficult to burn Colonel Sanders in effigy," conceded Ben Goldsmith with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). He used lighter fluid Monday afternoon on the trademark white linen suit of Kentucky Fried Chicken's founder as a half-dozen PETA protesters stood outside the KFC at 39th South and State Street.

Standing on KFC's lawn were two men protesting the protesters. They were there with permission from KFC management, said South Salt Lake police officers who were there to keep order.

"Just say no to PETA! Eat animals! Lots of animals!" shouted one man, who waved a homemade anti-PETA sign. He gave reporters covering the event several different names before settling on "Dave." Doing his best to disrupt the Colonel-burning, Dave threatened several PETA activists while standing dangerously close to the effigy.

"Even one hair on my head gets singed, you're going down!" he said. "That's a lawsuit!"

He needn't have worried. Sprinkles of rain and strong winds put out the flames quickly, leaving burned bits of the Colonel's foot blowing down State Street. The rest of the effigy wouldn't light.

Goldsmith accused KFC of abusing chickens and called Colonel Sanders "a symbol of cruelty." The protest did not stop the steady stream of lunchtime customers from going in to eat. Even South Salt Lake Police Chief Beau Babka was spotted inside.

The KFC restaurant at 39th South and State Street has been the subject of animal rights protests before. South Salt Lake Police are investigating a graffiti incident at the restaurant last month. Investigators told the Deseret Morning News graffiti that read "fried cruelty" was scrawled on the walls.

"We're reviewing surveillance video trying to identify people," said Capt. Tracy Tingey. Goldsmith said the vandalism was a shame.

"It makes my job harder," he said.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com