Direct Action
We Can Do Better
Approximately 25 million farm animals are slaughtered each day in the United States. Approximately nine percent — more than 850 million — of the animals reared for food in the United States each year never make it to the slaughterhouse because they have already died from stress-induced disease or injury.
Please watch this music video to reconnect with animal rights
Many people believe the answer lies in local animal farming. They are wrong.
A primary concern of our organization is bringing the truth about the mistreatment of animals to light -- where ever they're being held captive. Animals on smaller farming operations are still subjugated to maltreatment and exploitation. Lest we not forget, every animal raised for human gain will one day end up on the same chopping block. Death does not come lightly to those who wish to live.
What we're doing about it
Action For Animals is committed to documenting and bearing witness to the atrocities committed against animals inside local farms, sale barns and slaughterhouses. In November 2021, we filmed animals at a local sale barn. It was deplorable. Animals were emaciated, covered in their own excrement, crying out and struggling to get free. This is not unusual. This is local animal farming.
This is our video of that event. This is the story of Lazarus.
Then..
(A non vegan world)
Now..
(A vegan world)
Banana Derby Protest
In the Summer of 2022, Action For Animals organized a protest against the "Banana Derby" at the Hamburg Family Fun Fest in Hamburg, Michigan. The Banana Derby chains Capuchin Monkey's to the backs of dogs and makes them race around a track for an audience. After the "racing", the monkeys are forced to take pictures with paying guests. The monkeys have had all of their teeth pulled out, so they won't bite the guests who are around them.
This act travels all over the country for 6 months out of the year in a small trailer. No condition for a monkey to be in. The owner of the Banana Derby, Phil Hendricks, has been citing multiple time by the USDA for the treatment of the animals in his "care".
When the protests started, Phil was pretty vocal about his opposition of us being there. Over his intercom system he called the activists names and shouted false accusations about the activists. His tone finally changed when we had the local news station out to do a story about the event and raise our concerns.
This particular weekend was also exceptionally hot, with temperatures reaching into the 90's. Still, animals were forced to "perform."
We were able to organize so well, that we had activists protesting at EVERY show. Activists were holding signs, passing out fliers, and having conversations with guests on why the Banana Derby was so harmful to the animals. Through online pressure and passing out fliers, the festival organizers received over 15,000 emails discouraging them from hosting the Banana Derby at the Family Fun Fest.
We had primatologists, Humane Society reps, and even animal lawyers present for the protest. Even a few visitors of the festival saw what we were doing and joined us in the protest. It was an amazing team effort!
We could tell that our pressure was getting to the event organizers and Banana Derby staff as our space for protesting was getting smaller by the day. Also, a counter protest was put out by a "concerned citizen" claiming that Brece Clark, protest organizer, was a hypocrite because he works for Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary. The intent being that a sanctuary and traveling animal circus were somehow comparable. Naturally, we counter protested the counter protest and put up our own poster signs, dispelling claims and educating visitors on the difference between a roadside circus and animal sanctuary. Much to the event organizers chagin, this stunt provided even more opportunity for discussion and education.
At the end of the weekend, the protest was an incredible success. The owners of the Banana Derby were feeling the heat, and it showed. As the shows went on, the amount of time spent with the guests taking pictures dwindled more and more, and Phil seemed to be getting tired of the constant sound of protesters speaking out against him and his cruel act.
After the final show on the final day, we spoke to the police officers who were on site to make sure nothing got out of hand (and did an incredible job ensuring our free speech), we were told that the Banana Derby would NOT be returning to the Hamburg Family Fun Festival for the following year. SUCCESS. WE DID IT.
This protest was a perfect example of how successful a pressure campaign can be when people work together. We hope this can be achieved at other venues as well. There is no room or reason to continue these cruel acts.
