Yesterday (June 10th 2017), Toronto held its fifth March to Close All Slaughterhouses, along with dozens of other cities across five continents! Once again we had an incredible turnout with about 800 people participating!
As with the years before, we marched down all the major streets at the city’s core. We also did the die-in, where the activists laid down on the ground to symbolically represent the trillions of animals we tragically lose to the animal agriculture industry every single year, and to show solidarity. As we lay silent on the ground, screams recorded from dying animals inside actual slaughterhouses is broadcasted over a loud-speaker. Most likely, anyone passing by has never even seen the front of a slaughterhouse, let alone heard the horrific sounds that resound from inside; this is intentional on the part of the industry because, as Paul McCartney famously said, “if slaughterhouses had glass walls we would all be vegetarian”. This is one of the reasons for why the die-ins are such incredibly powerful demonstrations; they bring attention to the voices of those who are violently silenced. A newer addition to the march was the inclusion of a Direct Action Now disruption inside a “Whole Foods”, where some of the activists walked in and around the store while holding up their signs depicting the disturbing and heart-shattering reality that was the life of the animal whose flesh a customer is contemplating purchasing. These actions are called “disruptions” because they do precisely that, they disrupt the “normal” act of shopping for animal products, and in so doing, disrupt the speciesist mindset that allows for this shopping in the first place. Finally, towards the end of the march, a memorial was held for all the beautiful angels who have fallen victim to this incredibly cruel and violent system we have developed,.during which flowers and other items were symbolically laid beside pictures of a few of these lovely beings, who represented the plight of their entire species. All in all, it was an incredibly moving and powerful event, and we are CERTAIN that we planted seeds of compassion in many minds, and that at least one person will make a change in their lifestyle in order to show love, the love that we know each and every one of you has, even if it is currently buried deep inside, to all persons, whether animal or human.
Listen to your heart. Go vegan.
Click here to learn about Toronto Pig Save and join our vigils! And while you’re at it, here’s the link to where you can purchase our merchandise, should you so desire.
Click here to learn about The Save Movement and find a Save group in your area. Can’t find one? Click here for tips on how to start one in your own city.
Photo credit to Chandrika Joshi and Faith Keen.
