I care about many issues because they often affect me directly, and a huge part of my empathy for animals stems from my own experience being “othered.” La Raza For Liberation’s mission is to educate and empower our communities in a way that is relatable, accessible, and historically accurate. We reject the idea that all Latin Americans are Mexican, look the same, or that all Latin Americans come from the exact same culture and have the exact same needs and experiences. We are a diverse people, and our work should reflect that.

The professional farmed animal protection movement wants to be a global powerhouse capable of taking on and eliminating practices and industries that have existed for decades. It wants mainstream support—to no longer be seen as a radical, niche passion. In order to get to this place, we must examine the state of our organizations and the movement at large. Is it equitable? Is it conscious and inclusive? Can people all over the identity spectrum see themselves represented?

Effectiveness has become a cornerstone principle of the professional vegan movement. By adopting this approach, we’ve achieved monumental successes for animals with our relatively modest resources. But there may be a downside to this calculus-driven method of ending animal cruelty. In striving to do good better and do the most good they can do, the mainstream farmed animal protection movement have often left racial diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts out of the effectiveness equation.