04.23.07
“Scatter Tracts Like Raindrops”
Jon Camp from Vegan Outreach makes a hand-off to a University of Maryland student.
During antebellum America, William Lloyd Garrison (my hero) worked to put fellow abolitionists in the field to “scatter tracts like raindrops over the land;” tracts filled with startling facts and melting appeals on the subject of slavery. These days, Vegan Outreach is using this same model to end the enslavement, torture, and death of animals raised for food.
Today, Vegan Outreach’s Outreach Coordinator Jon Camp, volunteer Neva Davis, and I distributed over 1,600 leaflets in three hours at the University of Maryland. The brochures feature pictures, stories, and facts on the savage treatment of animals on modern day farms and slaughterhouses. Download and look at the brochures yourself:
- Even If You Like Meat…
- Why Vegan?
- Try Vegetarian (no gory pictures)
Volunteer Neva Davis shares her fire for justice with others.
Too often, the media distort, filter, simplify, skew or ignore stories on animal protection. I love that leafletting allows us to take our message to people directly and in our own words. I also like how it is easy, simple, and effective; anyone can do it! Better yet, after it’s done, students are talking and thinking about the needless violence inflicted on innocent animals, and what they can do to alleviate their suffering.
Vegan Outreach has hired four people to help ensure that leaflets are distributed at college campuses across the country. Each employee travels the country leafleting at colleges and universities, while also mobilizing local groups to do their own leafleting.
Last year, Vegan Outreach distributed over 1 million leaflets. Every week, they hear inspiring stories from people who have decided to stop eating animals, or made a promise to edge towards veg; and they share these uplifting stories with their supporters in their enewsletter.
Me helping create a campus “buzz” on vegetarianism; one student at a time.
Today was a great day; beautiful sunshine, fresh air, and friendly people. Many people told us they were already vegetarian or vegan. Although no one told us that we had changed their lives, we saw many people reading the booklet.
The abolitionists of old, seeking to end the slave trade, scattered tracts like raindrops on faith that such one-on-one consciousness-raising would usher in a time where all humans beings would be deemed worthy of dignity and justice. We, the members of Vegan Outreach, follow in their honorable footsteps, sowing seeds with our literature, that will similarly grow to bear good fruit for all feeling beings.
Join the revolution!
This text was written in 2007 by Freeman Wicklund of FreemanWicklund.org, and it may be freely reprinted or distributed in any e-zine, e-mail, newsletter or blog as long as this sentence and Web link are included.
Jennifer said,
May 3, 2007 at 12:14 am
good work! go vegans!
beryl v said,
May 3, 2007 at 2:48 am
How I love reading about your distributions at colleges in the US. I wish we had something like that happening here in Australia. I am too old myself (78!) to help with starting something. Maybe you can contact our local Animal Liberation or some similar organisation here and see if they can start something. I wish you all the best with your wonderful work.
Charlie Talbert said,
May 3, 2007 at 7:20 am
What an inspiring reminder that non-violent change is coming, Freeman! Thanks for helping to make it happen in such a positive way.
- Charlie
Lu Haner said,
May 3, 2007 at 9:29 am
I would like to encourage Beryl V (from Australia) to take up leafletting, even if she has to do it by herself or with a friend. An organization is not necessary. Leafletting can be done in any setting - at a social gathering, in front of stores, in parks, anywhere where people gather is fertile ground for spreading the message about the plight of “food” animals. I think a venerable age of 78 will garner respect from passersby for the leafletter and the message itself.
Debra said,
May 3, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Freeman,
I applaud you and the other members of Vegan Outreach who have the courage to speak with total strangers about animal cruelty! Keep up the good work! Even if people aren’t convinced at first, it gets them to think about the issue, and hopefully, to later make a decision to become vegetarian.
T.W. said,
May 5, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Freeman, thank you so much for all that you are doing for the voiceless. You are definitely an inspiration, and absolutely right. One person at a time is just as important as mass mailings and advertising. It usually does not take too long before that one person you impacted becomes just as inspired as we are and begins to affect everyone around them. The movement toward a more compassionate world is really happening, and it is stronger than ever before, and this is really just the beginning. Doesn’t it feel fantastic to be an active part of it, we are really doing something meaningful with our lives and countless voiceless beings are being saved from brutalization and death because of it. Keep up the excellent work !
Marc Camp said,
May 6, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Freeman-
I couldn’t agree more with your article. I got the opportunity to leaflet with my bro, Jon, a few months back at University of Houston and I absolutely loved the interaction with the students. I had similar experiences to what you described. It is great being able to supply the information to help educate others and then allow them to take it from there.
Thanks,
Marc
Lorne William Klokeid said,
May 7, 2007 at 1:39 am
I’m so happy to see the good word of Vegan and Vegetarianism being spread to the youth at college. Keep up the good work!
As a lifelong vegan, born and raised, reading your leaflets makes me see just how right my folks were. When I was young I didn’t understand, but now that I’ve grown I am thankful to them for raising me to keep my eyes open to what’s going on out there! Thanks for doin’ what you do!!
Marjorie Ramos said,
May 7, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Freeman, so proud of you. This is the kind of grassroots work that makes a difference - hard but worth it. You just never know with whom your message will resonate and when. Thanks for all you do!
Peace on your plate,
Marjorie