that’s me in Dodger Stadium on the pitcher’s mound it’s the middle of the
pitcher’s mound it’s the middle of the
pitcher’s mound it’s the middle of the ninth inning and the game is tied three
ninth inning and the game is tied three
ninth inning and the game is tied three to three I’m standing next to a major
to three I’m standing next to a major
to three I’m standing next to a major league pitcher Kenley Jansen and judging
league pitcher Kenley Jansen and judging
league pitcher Kenley Jansen and judging by his expression he isn’t too thrilled
by his expression he isn’t too thrilled
by his expression he isn’t too thrilled that I’m there because if it isn’t
that I’m there because if it isn’t
that I’m there because if it isn’t obvious already I’m not a professional
obvious already I’m not a professional
obvious already I’m not a professional baseball player in fact that was the
baseball player in fact that was the
baseball player in fact that was the very first time I ever went to a
very first time I ever went to a
very first time I ever went to a baseball game and I honestly can’t tell
baseball game and I honestly can’t tell
baseball game and I honestly can’t tell you who won because thirty seconds after
you who won because thirty seconds after
you who won because thirty seconds after this picture was taken my sign was
this picture was taken my sign was
this picture was taken my sign was ripped out of my hand
ripped out of my hand
ripped out of my hand I was tackled by security guards
I was tackled by security guards
I was tackled by security guards handcuffed and dragged off the field all
handcuffed and dragged off the field all
handcuffed and dragged off the field all on live TV
on live TV
on live TV I was then stuffed into the back of a
I was then stuffed into the back of a
I was then stuffed into the back of a patrol car arrested by the LAPD and I
patrol car arrested by the LAPD and I
patrol car arrested by the LAPD and I spent the next four hours being held in
spent the next four hours being held in
spent the next four hours being held in custody and questioned by the police
custody and questioned by the police
custody and questioned by the police this was one year ago and I was 14 years
this was one year ago and I was 14 years
this was one year ago and I was 14 years old now many people ask how in the world
old now many people ask how in the world
old now many people ask how in the world my friends and I were able to get out to
my friends and I were able to get out to
my friends and I were able to get out to the pitcher’s mound at Dodger Stadium
the pitcher’s mound at Dodger Stadium
the pitcher’s mound at Dodger Stadium well we spent over an hour dodging
well we spent over an hour dodging
well we spent over an hour dodging security guards believe it or not but we
security guards believe it or not but we
security guards believe it or not but we had bought the cheapest tickets in the
had bought the cheapest tickets in the
had bought the cheapest tickets in the entire stadium so we were way way up at
entire stadium so we were way way up at
entire stadium so we were way way up at the top and we had to sneak past
the top and we had to sneak past
the top and we had to sneak past security guard after security guard
security guard after security guard
security guard after security guard after security guard until finally we
after security guard until finally we
after security guard until finally we were at the bottom level and then we
were at the bottom level and then we
were at the bottom level and then we would walk down the aisle towards the
would walk down the aisle towards the
would walk down the aisle towards the field and if we would see anyone look at
field and if we would see anyone look at
field and if we would see anyone look at us weird we would turn around like we
us weird we would turn around like we
us weird we would turn around like we had simply lost our way we waited for
had simply lost our way we waited for
had simply lost our way we waited for the exact moment when no one was looking
the exact moment when no one was looking
the exact moment when no one was looking and hopped over the railing and ran onto
and hopped over the railing and ran onto
and hopped over the railing and ran onto the field as fast as we possibly could
the field as fast as we possibly could
the field as fast as we possibly could and no I wasn’t it and no I wasn’t there
and no I wasn’t it and no I wasn’t there
and no I wasn’t it and no I wasn’t there because I thought it was cool fun or
because I thought it was cool fun or
because I thought it was cool fun or exciting in fact I knew that my actions
exciting in fact I knew that my actions
exciting in fact I knew that my actions would be frowned upon by most people
would be frowned upon by most people
would be frowned upon by most people because viewers would see me as being
because viewers would see me as being
because viewers would see me as being disruptive or rude after all I was
disruptive or rude after all I was
disruptive or rude after all I was breaking the law right there in front of
breaking the law right there in front of
breaking the law right there in front of them and taking the consequences for all
them and taking the consequences for all
them and taking the consequences for all to see but the thing is I knew in my
to see but the thing is I knew in my
to see but the thing is I knew in my heart that I had something very
heart that I had something very
heart that I had something very important to say and I knew from
important to say and I knew from
important to say and I knew from personal experience that most people
personal experience that most people
personal experience that most people just don’t want to hear it the reason I
just don’t want to hear it the reason I
just don’t want to hear it the reason I was in Dodger Stadium that day is
was in Dodger Stadium that day is
was in Dodger Stadium that day is because the hotdogs they serve in the
because the hotdogs they serve in the
because the hotdogs they serve in the concession stands are being produced by
concession stands are being produced by
concession stands are being produced by a meat supplier that uses particularly
a meat supplier that uses particularly
a meat supplier that uses particularly cruel methods on animals
cruel methods on animals
cruel methods on animals nobody wants animals to suffer but still
nobody wants animals to suffer but still
nobody wants animals to suffer but still I knew that most people in that stadium
I knew that most people in that stadium
I knew that most people in that stadium didn’t want to hear about the hotdogs
didn’t want to hear about the hotdogs
didn’t want to hear about the hotdogs and the gruesome truth behind each bite
and the gruesome truth behind each bite
and the gruesome truth behind each bite but they did hear about it and so did
but they did hear about it and so did
but they did hear about it and so did the people watching the game on TV and
the people watching the game on TV and
the people watching the game on TV and so did the people watching the viral
so did the people watching the viral
so did the people watching the viral internet clips of us getting handcuffed
internet clips of us getting handcuffed
internet clips of us getting handcuffed and dragged off the field and maybe some
and dragged off the field and maybe some
and dragged off the field and maybe some of you here in this room don’t want to
of you here in this room don’t want to
of you here in this room don’t want to hear about it either and I understand
hear about it either and I understand
hear about it either and I understand that it’s easier to look away sometimes
that it’s easier to look away sometimes
that it’s easier to look away sometimes it’s easier to plug your ears or change
it’s easier to plug your ears or change
it’s easier to plug your ears or change the channel because there are some
the channel because there are some
the channel because there are some things that we all prefer to pretend are
things that we all prefer to pretend are
things that we all prefer to pretend are not occurring in this world because
not occurring in this world because
not occurring in this world because otherwise we’d have to consider the fact
otherwise we’d have to consider the fact
otherwise we’d have to consider the fact that maybe we as a society are a part of
that maybe we as a society are a part of
that maybe we as a society are a part of a process that’s ugly and painful and
a process that’s ugly and painful and
a process that’s ugly and painful and cruel there are many issues like this in
cruel there are many issues like this in
cruel there are many issues like this in the world issues were the only way to
the world issues were the only way to
the world issues were the only way to get people to listen is to take bold
get people to listen is to take bold
get people to listen is to take bold action sometimes even risking one’s own
action sometimes even risking one’s own
action sometimes even risking one’s own life to influence the minds of others
life to influence the minds of others
life to influence the minds of others the issue that I care so much about that
the issue that I care so much about that
the issue that I care so much about that I was willing to get tackled by security
I was willing to get tackled by security
I was willing to get tackled by security guards live on television with a crowd
guards live on television with a crowd
guards live on television with a crowd both cheering and jeering is the plight
both cheering and jeering is the plight
both cheering and jeering is the plight of animals particularly farmed animals
of animals particularly farmed animals
of animals particularly farmed animals they are flesh and bone just like you
they are flesh and bone just like you
they are flesh and bone just like you and me but our society treats them like
and me but our society treats them like
and me but our society treats them like machines sometimes even products cheap
machines sometimes even products cheap
machines sometimes even products cheap disposable products to be manufactured
disposable products to be manufactured
disposable products to be manufactured in NASA the fact is the plight of
in NASA the fact is the plight of
in NASA the fact is the plight of animals is something most of us try to
animals is something most of us try to
animals is something most of us try to push as far from our minds as possible
push as far from our minds as possible
push as far from our minds as possible after all the system is set up that way
after all the system is set up that way
after all the system is set up that way ensuring that consumers never have to
ensuring that consumers never have to
ensuring that consumers never have to look an animal in the eyes and confront
look an animal in the eyes and confront
look an animal in the eyes and confront the fact that is sensitive intelligent
the fact that is sensitive intelligent
the fact that is sensitive intelligent and social creature is looking back at
and social creature is looking back at
and social creature is looking back at them but we need to think about it and
them but we need to think about it and
them but we need to think about it and talk about it and accept that it’s
talk about it and accept that it’s
talk about it and accept that it’s happening I learned about the plight of
happening I learned about the plight of
happening I learned about the plight of animals when I was 11 years old and I
animals when I was 11 years old and I
animals when I was 11 years old and I felt an urgent need to become involved
felt an urgent need to become involved
felt an urgent need to become involved in the animal rights movement in fact I
in the animal rights movement in fact I
in the animal rights movement in fact I felt so strongly about this issue that I
felt so strongly about this issue that I
felt so strongly about this issue that I founded my own nonprofit happy Hen
founded my own nonprofit happy Hen
founded my own nonprofit happy Hen chicken rescue which is now a 40 acre
chicken rescue which is now a 40 acre
chicken rescue which is now a 40 acre farm the animal sanctuary right here on
farm the animal sanctuary right here on
farm the animal sanctuary right here on the Central Coast of California
spending time with the victims of animal
spending time with the victims of animal agriculture has changed my life it has
agriculture has changed my life it has
agriculture has changed my life it has made me willing to sacrifice just about
made me willing to sacrifice just about
made me willing to sacrifice just about anything to end their suffering I feel
anything to end their suffering I feel
anything to end their suffering I feel that when there is an important issue of
that when there is an important issue of
that when there is an important issue of injustice being ignored whether it’s
injustice being ignored whether it’s
injustice being ignored whether it’s animal exploitation racism homophobia or
animal exploitation racism homophobia or
animal exploitation racism homophobia or whatever is important to you that we
whatever is important to you that we
whatever is important to you that we have a moral responsibility to do
have a moral responsibility to do
have a moral responsibility to do something about it we have a
something about it we have a
something about it we have a responsibility to put it into the
responsibility to put it into the
responsibility to put it into the forefront of everyone’s minds whatever
forefront of everyone’s minds whatever
forefront of everyone’s minds whatever cause is important to you isn’t going to
cause is important to you isn’t going to
cause is important to you isn’t going to progress or win without nonviolent
progress or win without nonviolent
progress or win without nonviolent consistent and bold acts of protest in
consistent and bold acts of protest in
consistent and bold acts of protest in order to create change you need a
order to create change you need a
order to create change you need a movement yes one person can make a
movement yes one person can make a
movement yes one person can make a difference absolutely but thousands of
difference absolutely but thousands of
difference absolutely but thousands of people can change the world so next you
people can change the world so next you
people can change the world so next you might ask how would one inspire a
might ask how would one inspire a
might ask how would one inspire a movement well I believe it’s through
movement well I believe it’s through
movement well I believe it’s through acts of courage and sacrifice and I know
acts of courage and sacrifice and I know
acts of courage and sacrifice and I know that might sound like a corny line out
that might sound like a corny line out
that might sound like a corny line out of a military movie but seriously acts
of a military movie but seriously acts
of a military movie but seriously acts of courage and sacrifice makes
of courage and sacrifice makes
of courage and sacrifice makes sympathizers wonder why am I not out
sympathizers wonder why am I not out
sympathizers wonder why am I not out there – and you know what they might
there – and you know what they might
there – and you know what they might just show up to your next event and that
just show up to your next event and that
just show up to your next event and that is why I have taken actions that many
is why I have taken actions that many
is why I have taken actions that many would consider drastic I’ve had people
would consider drastic I’ve had people
would consider drastic I’ve had people tell me to give up I’ve even been
tell me to give up I’ve even been
tell me to give up I’ve even been assaulted and threatened by members of
assaulted and threatened by members of
assaulted and threatened by members of the opposition yes it’s scary and
the opposition yes it’s scary and
the opposition yes it’s scary and daunting after all I am trying to fight
daunting after all I am trying to fight
daunting after all I am trying to fight an industry that spends billions trying
an industry that spends billions trying
an industry that spends billions trying to make sure that people like us feel
to make sure that people like us feel
to make sure that people like us feel disconnected from the flesh on our
disconnected from the flesh on our
disconnected from the flesh on our plates there are 56 billion land animals
plates there are 56 billion land animals
plates there are 56 billion land animals being killed every single year for food
being killed every single year for food
being killed every single year for food 56 billion worldwide and so few of us
56 billion worldwide and so few of us
56 billion worldwide and so few of us are talking about it it is time to take
are talking about it it is time to take
are talking about it it is time to take direct action I like to think of myself
direct action I like to think of myself
direct action I like to think of myself and other animal rights activists as
and other animal rights activists as
and other animal rights activists as following in the footsteps of people
following in the footsteps of people
following in the footsteps of people like Emmeline Pankhurst Rosa Parks and
like Emmeline Pankhurst Rosa Parks and
like Emmeline Pankhurst Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King jr. they all
Martin Luther King jr. they all
Martin Luther King jr. they all succeeded by taking bold actions
succeeded by taking bold actions
succeeded by taking bold actions that like mine many considered extreme
that like mine many considered extreme
that like mine many considered extreme at the time but in retrospect seem
at the time but in retrospect seem
at the time but in retrospect seem reasonable and necessary but like all
reasonable and necessary but like all
reasonable and necessary but like all hard work sometimes things don’t go the
hard work sometimes things don’t go the
hard work sometimes things don’t go the way you planned I’ve certainly made a
way you planned I’ve certainly made a
way you planned I’ve certainly made a fool of myself during protests I’ve been
fool of myself during protests I’ve been
fool of myself during protests I’ve been to let’s say forceful while handing out
to let’s say forceful while handing out
to let’s say forceful while handing out vegan literature one man said he
vegan literature one man said he
vegan literature one man said he couldn’t take the leaflet but he didn’t
couldn’t take the leaflet but he didn’t
couldn’t take the leaflet but he didn’t have time and I blocked him in his path
have time and I blocked him in his path
have time and I blocked him in his path and insisted he take it he did it I’ve
and insisted he take it he did it I’ve
and insisted he take it he did it I’ve organized protests poorly – one time I
organized protests poorly – one time I
organized protests poorly – one time I organized a Sunday protest to add a
organized a Sunday protest to add a
organized a Sunday protest to add a grocery store that’s closed on Sundays
grocery store that’s closed on Sundays
grocery store that’s closed on Sundays it was awkward explaining that to my
it was awkward explaining that to my
it was awkward explaining that to my fellow activists to say the least but
fellow activists to say the least but
fellow activists to say the least but I’ve learned a lot and every day I push
I’ve learned a lot and every day I push
I’ve learned a lot and every day I push myself to become the most effective
myself to become the most effective
myself to become the most effective activist I can be because we only get
activist I can be because we only get
activist I can be because we only get one life and so we must use our time
one life and so we must use our time
one life and so we must use our time efficiently as to make the greatest
efficiently as to make the greatest
efficiently as to make the greatest difference possible I have held so many
difference possible I have held so many
difference possible I have held so many animals in my arms as they have died and
animals in my arms as they have died and
animals in my arms as they have died and I feel that I owe them that if nothing
I feel that I owe them that if nothing
I feel that I owe them that if nothing else I recently spoke to the Los Angeles
else I recently spoke to the Los Angeles
else I recently spoke to the Los Angeles Animal Services commissioners about
Animal Services commissioners about
Animal Services commissioners about ending the religious ritual slaughter of
ending the religious ritual slaughter of
ending the religious ritual slaughter of chickens the night before this photo was
chickens the night before this photo was
chickens the night before this photo was taken I protested the rituals and ended
taken I protested the rituals and ended
taken I protested the rituals and ended up getting sprayed with mace there were
up getting sprayed with mace there were
up getting sprayed with mace there were dozens of police officers there standing
dozens of police officers there standing
dozens of police officers there standing in military form after they left and I
in military form after they left and I
in military form after they left and I could finally walk around without the
could finally walk around without the
could finally walk around without the fear of being arrested
fear of being arrested
fear of being arrested I found buckets of blood and dirty white
I found buckets of blood and dirty white
I found buckets of blood and dirty white feathers in this ritual the chickens are
feathers in this ritual the chickens are
feathers in this ritual the chickens are swung around by their wings their
swung around by their wings their
swung around by their wings their throats are cut and they bleed out their
throats are cut and they bleed out their
throats are cut and they bleed out their dead bodies are then stuffed into trash
dead bodies are then stuffed into trash
dead bodies are then stuffed into trash bags the images haunt me to this day and
bags the images haunt me to this day and
bags the images haunt me to this day and the ritual has yet to be banned and I
the ritual has yet to be banned and I
the ritual has yet to be banned and I continue to wonder what kind of world do
continue to wonder what kind of world do
continue to wonder what kind of world do we live in were activists like me are
we live in were activists like me are
we live in were activists like me are treated like criminals
treated like criminals
treated like criminals while animal abusers get away with so
while animal abusers get away with so
while animal abusers get away with so much but the thing is when most people
much but the thing is when most people
much but the thing is when most people are finally educated
are finally educated
are finally educated and consider what is happening to
and consider what is happening to
and consider what is happening to animals they will help bring about
animals they will help bring about
animals they will help bring about change
change
change I am confident in that that is why I
I am confident in that that is why I
I am confident in that that is why I feel activism is generally successful we
feel activism is generally successful we
feel activism is generally successful we live in a society that tells us from the
live in a society that tells us from the
live in a society that tells us from the moment we are born to be kind when
moment we are born to be kind when
moment we are born to be kind when someone is being hurt most of us want to
someone is being hurt most of us want to
someone is being hurt most of us want to help them that is why I believe if we
help them that is why I believe if we
help them that is why I believe if we can get the issue of animal rights onto
can get the issue of animal rights onto
can get the issue of animal rights onto the table and help people truly see
the table and help people truly see
the table and help people truly see animal agriculture for what it is we can
animal agriculture for what it is we can
animal agriculture for what it is we can and we will ban the consumption of meat
and we will ban the consumption of meat
and we will ban the consumption of meat dairy and eggs and give animals the
dairy and eggs and give animals the
dairy and eggs and give animals the rights that they deserve for example my
rights that they deserve for example my
rights that they deserve for example my friends in Berkeley rallied petitioned
friends in Berkeley rallied petitioned
friends in Berkeley rallied petitioned and marched demanding an end to the sale
and marched demanding an end to the sale
and marched demanding an end to the sale of fur they were loud and they used
of fur they were loud and they used
of fur they were loud and they used dramatic visuals like fake blood but
dramatic visuals like fake blood but
dramatic visuals like fake blood but they grabbed people’s attention and they
they grabbed people’s attention and they
they grabbed people’s attention and they started important conversations and they
started important conversations and they
started important conversations and they won they successfully banned the sale of
won they successfully banned the sale of
won they successfully banned the sale of fur in the City of Berkeley now banning
fur in the City of Berkeley now banning
fur in the City of Berkeley now banning fur in one city may not seem like a big
fur in one city may not seem like a big
fur in one city may not seem like a big deal but in reality it was a huge
deal but in reality it was a huge
deal but in reality it was a huge victory it will pave the way for cities
victory it will pave the way for cities
victory it will pave the way for cities around the world to do the same thing
around the world to do the same thing
around the world to do the same thing and possibly even more importantly it
and possibly even more importantly it
and possibly even more importantly it provided the movement with an inspiring
provided the movement with an inspiring
provided the movement with an inspiring victory just like rescuing one animal
victory just like rescuing one animal
victory just like rescuing one animal from a farm may seem minor in the grand
from a farm may seem minor in the grand
from a farm may seem minor in the grand scheme of things it can actually give
scheme of things it can actually give
scheme of things it can actually give hope to thousands and on that note I
hope to thousands and on that note I
hope to thousands and on that note I want to tell you while one last story
want to tell you while one last story
want to tell you while one last story this is sleepy a hen I rescued from an
this is sleepy a hen I rescued from an
this is sleepy a hen I rescued from an egg farm when we saved her she was
egg farm when we saved her she was
egg farm when we saved her she was unconscious for two weeks she was in a
unconscious for two weeks she was in a
unconscious for two weeks she was in a coma
coma
coma we didn’t think sleepy was going to make
we didn’t think sleepy was going to make
we didn’t think sleepy was going to make it but she did after being caged for two
it but she did after being caged for two
it but she did after being caged for two years she finally got to run around in
years she finally got to run around in
years she finally got to run around in the sunshine spread her wings socialize
the sunshine spread her wings socialize
the sunshine spread her wings socialize and explore and although I am so glad
and explore and although I am so glad
and explore and although I am so glad that she got to spend the last two years
that she got to spend the last two years
that she got to spend the last two years of her life at my sanctuary
of her life at my sanctuary
of her life at my sanctuary she still deserved so much better and
she still deserved so much better and
she still deserved so much better and you may say that she was just the
you may say that she was just the
you may say that she was just the chicken that her life didn’t have much
chicken that her life didn’t have much
chicken that her life didn’t have much meaning and value beyond
meaning and value beyond
meaning and value beyond dollar sign but it did we know from
dollar sign but it did we know from
dollar sign but it did we know from scientific studies and observation the
scientific studies and observation the
scientific studies and observation the chickens feel fear pain love and
chickens feel fear pain love and
chickens feel fear pain love and contentment they desire peace and
contentment they desire peace and
contentment they desire peace and happiness just like we do if you have
happiness just like we do if you have
happiness just like we do if you have ever spent time with a chicken then
ever spent time with a chicken then
ever spent time with a chicken then you’ve probably seen this for yourself
you’ve probably seen this for yourself
you’ve probably seen this for yourself it is individuals like sleepy who I
it is individuals like sleepy who I
it is individuals like sleepy who I think about when I protest at grocery
think about when I protest at grocery
think about when I protest at grocery stores and restaurants it is their
stores and restaurants it is their
stores and restaurants it is their stories they keep me on my feet and yes
stories they keep me on my feet and yes
stories they keep me on my feet and yes it’s driven me to take actions that some
it’s driven me to take actions that some
it’s driven me to take actions that some of you might even roll your eyes at but
of you might even roll your eyes at but
of you might even roll your eyes at but let’s just know that because of these
let’s just know that because of these
let’s just know that because of these actions I was invited to speak here and
actions I was invited to speak here and
actions I was invited to speak here and I just got to educate all of you about
I just got to educate all of you about
I just got to educate all of you about animal rights for 10 minutes so that’s
animal rights for 10 minutes so that’s
animal rights for 10 minutes so that’s something
but in all seriousness if you take one
but in all seriousness if you take one thing away from this talk I hope you
thing away from this talk I hope you
thing away from this talk I hope you take away courage courage to do what’s
take away courage courage to do what’s
take away courage courage to do what’s right no matter what others will think
right no matter what others will think
right no matter what others will think of you if there is an injustice that you
of you if there is an injustice that you
of you if there is an injustice that you feel must end then don’t sit at home and
feel must end then don’t sit at home and
feel must end then don’t sit at home and watch others attempt to end it for you
watch others attempt to end it for you
watch others attempt to end it for you get out there be brave take a bold
get out there be brave take a bold
get out there be brave take a bold action if we all do this we can create a
action if we all do this we can create a
action if we all do this we can create a kind and just world thank you
kind and just world thank you
kind and just world thank you [Applause]
”
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