Protesters begin arriving at the Water Tower park in Chicago at 1pm on Saturday, October 9 to engage in activism against speciesism. As they wait for all the animal-right activists to gather at the meeting point, they are asked to reflect on their intention for showing up, and to think about their purpose and drive.
When the group of activists has fully arrived and they have picked out their signs, shirts, and bandanas, they begin walking towards the middle of the park so that they are visible to the pedestrians walking in the city. As they approach their position Alyssa Weimer (pictured left) reveals that this is her third animal-right protest since COVID-19 regulations loosened up, and that even though she is no longer a student at SAU and is no longer officially a part of the organization, she loves the community and hopes to “continue attending these events and raising her voice for animals”.
Protesters hold their signs in the park and engage pedestrians as they protest against speciesism. They define it as “prejudice or discrimination based on species,” the belief that all species are equal.
As activists stand with signs and hand out pamphlets with their slogan “End Speciesism” they express their thoughts on the issue. “We should stop eating animals because the future of the planet depends on it; its a huge contributor to climate change, COVID happened because we eat them… animal rights are also human rights” says Lila Mann, 23, regional organizer of the organization Mercy For Animals
Activists hand out “Pig Out” snacks, a vegan alternative to pork rinds to a young girl. They do this with the intention of “showing that there is always a vegan, cruelty-free alternative out there” says Alyssa Weimer.
Pedestrians engage with the activists in friendly conversation, asking questions and sharing thoughts.
A white-haired man dressed in a polished suit approaches the sign reading “I can’t love animals and eat them too. Change my mind.” He reveals that he is a vegan himself, and endorses the protestors for showing up and raising their voice.
Adam Henry, 37, a community organizer for animal rights and liberation movements stands wearing a pig mask to act as a voice for their suffering. Upon hearing a pedestrian scream “want my leftover steak?” he responds “suffering doesn’t live in a vacuum… it doesn’t take a lot to use the same excuses that humanity uses to oppress animals to begin oppressing humans.”
Nisha Kumar, 30, chants the group’s slogans through a megaphone, as all protesters raise their voice in community. Through call and response, they chant “raise your voice and raise your fist, stop being a speciesist”
Protesters stand up tall, cross-armed, as they chant “their bodies, not ours… animals are, not ours” to wrap up the protest after around 2 hours of activism at the Water Tower park.
