VegfestUK, the U.K.’s
largest and longest-running vegan festival, is backing a new project: Black
VegFest, the world’s first
Black vegan festival. Founded by vegan and social justice activist Omowale
Adewale, Black VegFest will
take place on August 11 in Brooklyn, New York. More than 7,500 people are expected to attend.
Brooklyn-based
Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME) is organizing the event and working to
ensure that it addresses socioeconomic and political issues of the Black and
Latino communities. “Black VegFest is still vegan for the animals, organizers
say. “However, we’re not educating animals. We’re consciously and carefully
educating human beings to address the plight of animals by any means
necessary.
According to LiveKindly, VegfestUK organizers say:
Black VegFest aims to address food sovereignty in poor communities of color, women’s rights, unhealthy food in our neighborhoods, gender bias, environmental pollution, gentrification, and animal suffering. Workshop topics are geared to explore more critical thoughts about our food system and what kind of society we want to live in.
The Black VegFest website states:
Intersectionality is addressing those causes and issues we have in common and are most passionate about. Like speciesism, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, ageism, etc.Be and come as you are. All are welcome at the Black VegFest.
There’s no question
about it: Animal rights is a social justice issue, and veganism is highly intersectional.
By going vegan, you
obviously take a stand to protect farmed animals. But you also safeguard the
planet, help poor rural
communities,
and boycott an industry
that routinely abuses workers, many of whom are undocumented immigrants denied basic labor rights.
Black VegFest is
free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged. Tickets are going
fast, so be sure to get yours here today!
Remember, each of
us can take action in our daily lives for peace and justice in many ways, such
as advocating meaningful change in our communities, speaking up when we see
injustice, and choosing to leave animals off our plates.
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