(2003-11-06) -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) today called on National Public Radio (NPR) to reject a $200 million bequest from Joan Kroc, the recently-deceased widow of the McDonald's restaurant tycoon, Ray Kroc.

"NPR must turn away this blood money," said PETA spokeswoman Ingrid Newkirk. "We call on Americans to boycott NPR programs since they will be bought with the slaughtered carcasses of billions of sentient beings."

PETA will begin an anti-NPR campaign this week featuring radio commercials recorded by naked celebrities.

Because the bequest amounts to about twice NPR's annual budget, public radio stations will cease fundraising during NPR programs and Congress will withdraw all taxpayer funding.