New York — Dozens of animal rights protesters chanted "Sack Vick!" outside NFL headquarters Friday, demanding that Falcons quarterback Michael Vick be suspended as he faces dogfighting charges.

The demonstrators, organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, waved posters bearing the image of a chained and bloodied pit bull and the words "Dogfighting Victim."

DAVID HO / Staff (ENLARGE)

PETA activists called for the suspension of Michael Vick outside NFL headquarters in Manhattan Friday.

"He shouldn't be with [the] NFL, he should be in jail," said Christine Lee, a retired model from Manhattan who came out to protest with her little, white dog, Suzi. "He should be punished for what he did to those poor animals who didn't do anything wrong."

PETA said it plans a similar demonstration at noon Monday at the Falcons' training camp in Flowery Branch, as well as a protest in Richmond, where Vick is to appear in federal court Thursday.

Vick and three others face charges of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fights and operating dogfighting across state lines. If convicted, they face up to six years in prison and fines of up to $350,000.

The protest is the latest move by PETA, which also sent letters to Vick's sponsors, the Falcons organization and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The letters condemned Vick's alleged behavior and called for an end to dogfighting.

As they rallied on Park Avenue outside Goodell's office, demonstrators point-ed to his one-year suspension of Tennessee Titans cornerback and Atlanta native Adam "Pacman" Jones under the NFL's personal conduct policy in April. Jones was charged with two felony counts of coercion in connection with a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club.

"It's a tough issue because our whole system is founded on innocent until proven guilty, but this commissioner has already set a precedent for suspending players before their trials have begun," said Doug Halsey, who volunteers with a local animal rescue and adoption group.

Halsey said that even if Vick only hosted the fights, he still should be suspended since he is "associated with one of the most loathsome criminal acts."