“No one is free when others are oppressed.”

“No one is free when others are oppressed.”

Posted on 16. Jun, 2010 by in Grazing in the Grassroots, Media Mavens

Bridging different social justice movements can be an empowering and eye-opening form of advocacy. I recently gave a workshop alongside Matt Rice — Mercy for Animals‘ NYC Campaign Coordinator — at the Institute for Critical Animal Studies North American Conference, focusing on Why Animal Rights is Central to Social Justice. And, as I’ve blogged about before, and I’ve written about for Satya Magazine (R.I.P. Satya — we miss you), the connection between gay rights and animal rights is of constant interest to me, and I know it is to several of you, too. I’ve also talked about the natural inclinations of certain animals — such as these two male flamingoes — to just … be true to their homosexual instincts, no questions asked, and the irony that those flamingoes adopted a motherless egg-turned-bird, but some gay humans are still not allowed to adopt children.

So I get all mushy inside when I see an animal rights group speaking up for both the LGBT community and the animals. When they’re not busy organizing heart-wrenching undercover investigations, Mercy for Animals (MFA) is doing just that — making the connections between gay rights and animal rights.

You might even remember when MFA’s Executive Director, Nathan Runkle, was ruthlessly attacked in an anti-gay hate crime in Ohio about a year and a half ago. MFA used that horrific crime to publicly ask that the attack lead to inclusion of gays in the Ohio hate crime law. The press release also pointed out that Runkle has been working “to bridge the gap between the common prejudices which lead to oppression and abuses faced by both animals and minorities” by protesting at gay rodeo events, and leafleting at gay pride events behind banners that say “No one is free when others are oppressed.”

The NYC Gay Pride event is coming up, and Matt Rice has informed me that, once again, MFA will be spreading compassion and raising awareness about equality for all. Here is the information:

NYC Pride Parade: Equality for All

Join compassionate MFA volunteers as we promote equality for all at the fun-filled NYC Pride Parade! We will march in the parade behind an MFA logo banner that declares “No one is free when others are oppressed,” with rainbow flags and bells and whistles. We will also have our best leafleters along the sides. Wear your MFA t-shirt, or, if you don’t have one, we’ll provide them. Join us for the fun and show your support of equality and animal advocacy!

For more information on the parade and other pride events, go to NYCPride.org.

We will be meeting up at the MFA Advocacy Center before the parade to enjoy a bagel breakfast, distribute t-shirts and meet other marchers. To show your spirit and join this event, please email Matt Rice or call 347.839.6464.

Where: MFA Advocacy Center, 332 E. 88th St. (between 1st and 2nd Aves.), Manhattan
When: Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. (Time is subject to change–RSVP to receive final details one week prior)

If you’re not in NYC but are interested in speaking up for all animals — human and non — remember to bring your favorite AR pamphlets to your other activist circles and help connect the pieces.

Photo: This image was originally posted to Flickr by bastique and was used with permission from the Creative Commons License.

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7 Responses to ““No one is free when others are oppressed.””

  1. Kelly

    16. Jun, 2010

    Let’s have a huge crowd march. What a great organization!

  2. Lisa

    16. Jun, 2010

    My husband laughs at me for expecting gay people to all be vegans. Hahaha, I always think that a gay person will be more socially aware and responsible, and that he/she will be more empathetic to different forms of oppression. It may sound silly, but my being a vegan has fostered empathy for other minority groups. For example, sometimes (er, always) I wish the world would cater more to vegans. Then I think about, for example, blind people, and how hard they have it. Almost nothing is done to make the world more convenient for them. I also sympathize with people who are the only one of their minority in an area, or in a group, or in an office. Sadly, they (and I), as the minority, have the responsibility for representing everyone else in that minority.

    A point? No, not really. :)

  3. Victoria Moran

    16. Jun, 2010

    I’ll be away speaking or I would so be there. Yes, yes, yes: oppression ripples out and leads to more oppression. It pains me that for so many people, it stops with humans. http://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/themes/busybee/styles/white/img_leave_comment.gif

  4. michele z

    18. Jun, 2010

    just heard of your org..what a beautiful thing.

  5. Jana

    29. Jun, 2010

    Lisa I totally agree with you! I just leafleted at the Pride Festival in Chicago and marched with MFA in the parade here, and I was so surprised to come across intolerance!!

  6. Jasmin Singer

    Jasmin

    02. Jul, 2010

    thank you all so much for your comments. i hope the mfa march went well; i was so sorry to be on the other side of the country and have to miss this one!!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. More Bridges  | Our Hen House - 25. Aug, 2010

    [...] This past June, we told you about Mercy for Animals‘ (then) upcoming involvement with the NYC Gay Pride Parade. The animal rights group marched with a banner that read, “No One is Free While Others are Oppressed.” In addition to the love affair that I’m having in my head with MFA for their provocative undercover investigations and their ability to generate mainstream media as quickly as I generate a cup of coffee, MFA has long worked to bridge the connection between animal rights and gay rights. Their current project to that end is the upcoming NYC Wedding March (a.k.a. Marriage Equality of NY march) across the Brooklyn Bridge, where they are asking all animal-loving marchers to wear their MFA t-shirts (if you don’t have one, they’ll provide one for you) and march behind their “No One is Free…” banner. If you’re in NYC, you can find out more information about the event on MeetUp. The shirt I wore to the 2008 MENY march. [...]

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