Multi-Part Series of Courage and Compassion on the Street, Part 15, National Animal Rights March in London, UK

The annual National Animal Rights March in London concludes at the renowned Parliament Square, serving as a flagship event for the Animal Rights Movement. Fran Vaz (vegan) is an artist and activist. She was the first speaker at the National Animal Rights March UK 2023 event. “We must never forget to stay humble and remember that we are always going to be part of their oppressor species We are not their gods. We’re not their masters. We’re not their saviors. If we listen to their cries, we know that they have voices. We are assisting them in their struggle. Let’s take the human ego out of the equation and be more in tune with them, and what they need and what they want.” Vegan ultra-runner and activist Sean Barrs, a PhD student in historical diets, encouraged participants at the National Animal Rights March UK 2023 event to work for animal rights. “Each and every one of us has a part to play in achieving Animal Liberation. We need to work harder than ever before because the animals need us more than ever before.”

The UK’s pioneering efforts include being the first country to ban the use of wild animal-folk in circuses and enacting some of the world’s strongest animal-people welfare laws. Between 2016 and 2019, London experienced a surge in animal-people rights activism, witnessing the formation of numerous vegan outreach groups until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted activities in 2020. However, despite this setback, the Shining World Compassion & Courage Award recipient Animal Rebellion, now known as Animal Rising, continued to organize demonstrations, collaborating with organizations like the Animal Freedom Movement and North London Hunt Saboteurs in 2022. National Rights March is an independent non-profit organization. “We don’t want tests to be conducted on a different species; we are demanding the END of animal testing. We aren’t asking for better methods of exploitation or more legislation which equally protects the oppressors. We want the END of all use of other animals for any purpose whatsoever.”