We have been attacked. Now everything depends on how we respond: with courage or fear. Hundreds of animal activists were tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets, and assaulted by dozens of police protecting Ridglan Farms. Now we must care for our injured and defend those who are arrested. Above all, we cannot give up on our purpose. We cannot give up on the dogs. If we stay focused on this purpose, the repression will backfire, as long as we don’t give up the fight. The brutality of those attacking us will highlight the injustice of a system that uses state violence to defend the torture of innocent dogs. The public will see armed men attacking grandmas desperately trying to save dogs, and their conscience will be awakened.
WAYNE HSIUNG: We have been attacked. Now everything depends on how we respond: with courage or fear… Hundreds of animal activists were tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets, and assaulted by dozens of police protecting Ridglan Farms. As I sit in a jail cell, I am feeling a mix of shock from the sudden escalation of violence and guilt for the failure to protect the people I love. Cordial conversations with Sheriff Kalvin Barrett convinced me that authorities would respond to our movement with reason. I was wrong…
Now we must care for our injured and defend those who are arrested. Leaders like me must be accountable for our decisions and ask forgiveness from all those who suffered harm while our movement learns from this moment. Above all, we cannot give up on our purpose. We cannot give up on the dogs. If we stay focused on this purpose, the repression will backfire. The public will see armed men attacking grandmas desperately trying to save dogs, and their conscience will be awakened.
That is what happened in India’s struggle for independence when armed British soldiers attacked peaceful activists simply attempting to gather salt. It’s what happened when civil rights activists were attacked by police dogs in Birmingham in 1963. It will happen here too — as long as we don’t give up the fight. The brutality of those attacking us will highlight the injustice of a system that uses state violence to defend the torture of innocent dogs…
So now we animal activists face the same question. We have been attacked, and our friends are hurt and in jail. But the dogs we love are still trapped in cages. And those brave activists’ sacred purpose — to bring those dogs into freedom and love — shines brilliantly through their actions. As I sit in this jail cell, I cannot say with certainty what our next steps should be. But what I can say is this: our next step must be taken with courage. Pray for courage. Pray for the dogs. SOURCE
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