Pigs were all over Boston University yesterday — most were on plates, but one stood outside and handed out animal rights literature.

The Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition, a nonprofit volunteer group, protested outside the Fuller Building last night in response to the BU-sponsored “A Taste of Elegance,” which showcased pork dishes from 10 area restaurants.

Fifteen protesters, including one dressed in a pig suit, passed out fliers with information on animal cruelty to pedestrians in view of the event’s diners.

MARC President and Executive Director Helen Rayshick, 55, who runs the organization with her husband, Steve Rayshick, said MARC’s purpose was not to intimidate event attendees but to attract attention to alleviating animal cruelty.

“We’re not here to harass, but we are willing to talk to anyone who is willing to listen,” she said. “We love BU, except for things like this.”

MARC member Jordan Gallagher, a 1973 Metropolitan College graduate, severed ties with the university shortly after graduating because at the time, BU sponsored trips to a horse-racing event where many animals were annually injured, he said.

Gallagher said as an undergraduate, he had reservations about BU’s position on animal testing despite minimal administration response to the horse-racing event.

“I don’t want to be associated with Boston University because they experiment on animals,” he said. “I’ve heard about how they used to sew kittens’ eyes shut and all sorts of horrific things. Because of all the experimentation, I dissociated myself with them.”

MARC members said they keep busy with demonstrations to counter public ignorance and apathy. The group held a demonstration outside Kentucky Fried Chicken in Allston last Saturday.

“When we’re eating something three times a day, we can forget about it,” Rayshick said. “This violence we cover up has an impact on the violence between ourselves.”

“A Taste of Elegance” attendees were mostly unaffected by the protest and continued the event as planned, said Neil Coletta, a BU Lifelong Learning senior staff assistant and attendee.

“It’s good [the protesters] have convictions and are doing something about it,” he said. “I’m glad they’re not being disruptive.”