Seattle's mayor pardoned a Thanksgiving tofurkey

Seattle's Mayor Ed Murray (D) pardoned a tofu turkey on Friday, in a new twist on the classic Thanksgiving tradition.

Murray held an event at Seattle's City Hall on Friday, posing for photographs with the tofurkey, nicknamed Braeburn, to raise awareness for "hunger in our community" ahead of the holiday.

"The mayor has a sense of humor," spokesman Jason Kelly told The Seattle Times. "He wanted to do something that would attract attention."

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While the tofu turkey sheds humor on Seattle's liberal reputation, the hunger awareness isn't a laughing matter — Kelly said Seattle's food banks are oversubscribed, and he encouraged Americans to help those in need this holiday season. --Meghan DeMaria