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On Saturday night in New York City during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Mercy For Animals honored my boss Russell Simmons for his dedication to and compassion for all sentient beings. Russell and I are longtime supporters of Mercy For Animals, and work tirelessly to create a society where all animals are treated with the compassion and respect they so rightfully deserve.

MFA serves as a voice for animals through proactive consumer education initiatives, cruelty investigations, corporate outreach, and legal advocacy. GlobalGrind routinely airs their groundbreaking, exclusive undercover investigations that have led to countless large corporations changing the way they treat animals and prosecution of animal abusers. I was asked by MFA to present the award to Russell, which was a thrill.  

Russell and I flew in the night before from Los Angeles and about ten minutes before we were told by the pilot to turn off all electronic devices, I wrote a speech about all that Russell has done to help animals. As I was typing it, I was in awe of how many ways Russell has used his voice to stand up for animal rights. It was evident that Russell was clearly humbled and touched to be recognized by a group so dedicated to ending animal abuse, particularity of farm animals. He spoke without a script from the stage, congratulating Mercy For Animals for their undercover investigations that he understood were “dangerous and risky,” but so very necessary to expose the horrors of animals raised for food.  

Undercover investigations by Mercy For Animals and other groups have led to landmark corporate animal welfare policy reforms, new and improved laws to protect farmed animals and the environment, felony convictions of animal abusers, increased consumer protection and food safety initiatives, and the closure of particularly corrupt facilities. Without undercover investigations, there are oftentimes no effective watchdogs protecting animals from egregious cruelty in these facilities or the public from serious health violations.

Russell spoke about the recent Ag-Gag bill that was passed in Iowa that prevents farm workers from documenting and exposing acts of cruelty to animals – an effort championed by corporate factory farming interests. Russell also spoke about the F.B.I. considering the undercover investigations as to be nothing less than acts of terrorism.

How outrageous is it that showing people the truth is considered an act of terrorism?! Please support the vital work of MFA by clicking the link below. They are freedom fighters. They are heroes. And as for calling them “terrorists” – well, they will show you what real terror looks like, in the eyes of a cow, pig, turkey or chicken. And it IS terrifying to know that the horrendous abuses their investigators uncover is often legal. But as I said in my speech, one day it will be illegal to eat animals. And on that day, there will finally be justice for ALL. Until then, vegan mafia. Onward….

~Simone Reyes

www.mercyforanimals.org