Pressure campaigns can be powerful tools for change—ending fur sales, removing foie gras from menus, replacing cruel products with compassionate ones. They often succeed through billboards, petitions, community meetings, and other peaceful means.
But when frustration boils over into violence, vandalism, shaming, or intimidation, the animal rights and vegan movement loses far more than it gains. What may look like a short-term “win” often backfires, leaving the public with a negative view of the cause itself.
Storming into businesses, blasting megaphones indoors, vandalizing property—these are not acts of liberation. They are acts of psychological warfare against everyone present, many of them innocent bystanders. Imagine you’re a customer who wandered in for lunch, a server trying to earn rent, a child at the next table. None of them caused the harm you oppose—yet they are caught in the crossfire.
I understand the anger. I’ve lived alongside it my whole life. Maybe you feel betrayed because those who loved you once told you animal flesh was “food.” That rage is real. But ask yourself: would you storm into your parents’ living room, throw fake blood on their carpet, and yell at them through a megaphone? Or would you try to reach them with kindness?
The Golden Rule we extend to animals must also apply to humans—especially the ones who haven’t yet made the connection. A decision-maker might change because of a respectful conversation, an offer to help, or even a celebration in their honor if they switch to a vegan option. Those approaches work. They last.
Before you act, remember who you were before you stopped consuming animals—someone who deserved love and compassion. Violence of any kind can harm emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, even among our strongest allies. Misplaced rage doesn’t just hurt feelings—it can set the movement back years.
If you truly want to help animals, channel your passion into strategies that win hearts and open minds. American Vegan Society is here to help you find solutions that create lasting change—without harming the very people we hope to reach.
Anne Dinshah became the first American Vegan Society (AVS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2025. Anne is the liaison between board and staff; she leads the AVS staff team into the modern era by infusing new ideas, securing funding, fostering enthusiasm, and promoting teamwork.
