Agriculture Fairness Alliance lobbies for system change, and continually focuses on how Big Ag’s exploitation of animals results in collateral injustices to marginalized people especially people of color, to the environment, to tax-payers, and obviously, to the animals whose lives are farmed.
While we know the system fails non-human animals, when we reflect honestly, we recognize the system fails people of color systemically and well beyond the ag industry. Black Lives Matter.
If you don’t agree with that statement, and you think the system treats everyone equally, then stop, watch this 60 second Jane Elliot video, then continue.
Zachary Toliver explains in this insightful article why we all should organize with Black Lives Matter. He eloquently explains why groups like AFA join BLM in “calling for an end to the systemic racism that allows this culture of corruption to go unchecked and black lives to be taken.”
He writes,
“Both of our movements want sweeping, reformative legislation that would help lead to convictions. We all want more transparency in investigations. We want prosecutors and attorney generals who will go to bat for us when we expose cruelty.”
To highlight the unique injustices that people of color face is not to deny that the system treats lots of groups unfairly, including animals. Rather, it’s to call for systemic change that will result in everyone being treated better. That said, again quoting Z. Toliver from his article,
“Please, resist detracting from the thrust of these demonstrations with an “all lives matter” perspective. The idea comes from a compassionate heart—and the idea is true—but this phrase has been weaponized to delegitimize the Black Lives Matter movement.”
AFA stands with Black Lives Matter
Black voices need to be amplified and heard, not stifled and deflected with ‘yeah, but’ statements like all lives matter. And even when we see problematic images that feel like a slam-dunk entry-point for making the AR case, please, pay attention to the perpetrator. Is it someone acting from a position of entitled superiority? Or is it an oppressed person responding emotionally to a lifetime of oppression?
So say it with us, even those of you for whom today was your first introduction to Jane Elliot’s work, and the awakening is still fresh: “BLACK LIVES MATTER.”
AFA will publish our anti-oppression statement soon. We developed it with activists across the movement. When we publish, we’ll invite other organizations to join an alliance that adopt the fundamental principles laid out. Then we can all work from the same page in calling for an end to all oppressions, even as many of us focus on waking people up to the horrific injustices that the system perpetrates on our non-human fellow earthlings.
Solidarity
AFA is comprised of a diverse volunteer team. We hear you, Mr. Toliver, when you request,
“I only ask that my fellow animal rights activists make their voices heard and show solidarity with Black people now, for this is the moment to do so. Everyone has a moral responsibility to stand against hate and unequivocal violence, no matter who the victims may be. Your voice could very well save my life.”
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Further Reading:
Visit the Black Lives Matter website. Tune into podcasts, hear the names of George Floyd and so many other black people whose lives have been taken by inadequately trained police. #SayTheirNames.
Read more history about black oppression from Lee Hall:
Further watching: this is 40 minutes well-spent if you are only now learning of Jane Elliot’s masterful work in revealing racism in all of its pervasive, inexorable expressions in our society:
Further watching: this is 40 minutes well-spent if you are only now learning of Jane Elliot’s masterful work in revealing racism in all of its pervasive, inexorable expressions in our society: