Meet the Biggest Young Force in Animal Activism


SARA was started by Patrick Kwan. But let’s let Patrick give you all the info in his own words in our interview with him. He is an amazing inspiration to all young animal rights activists. Check him out!

PETA2: How did you get started in the animal liberation movement?

Patrick Kwan: When I was 10 years old, in fifth grade, I was sentenced to spend a week in the back of the classroom for talking too much (and to this day, I maintain my innocence). There I found a few years’ worth of PETA magazines, and I spent my whole week reading them, learning about the plight of animals. I became an activist at the age of 12 when I tagged along with my college activist sister to campaign against sweatshops and organize workers in New York City. It was not until I was 14 that I met other animal rights activists and started getting involved in the animal rights movement. Throughout my teens, I volunteered and worked for a variety of animal rights, human rights, and environmental organizations, which I do to this day. I turned 21 years old a few months ago.

PETA2: How has your organization been received? Can you give us an example of your big successes and some setbacks?

PK: Student Animal Rights Alliance was basically just a dream in 2001; in this short time, we’ve grown to organize the biggest youth event in the history of the animal rights movement and directed much attention towards the need for supporting and empowering youth to get active for the animals. While every young animal advocate and the vast majority of others (like you folks at PETA!) have been very supportive of our work, there are some who just don’t see why we should work on getting more youth involved. Furthermore, many people and organizations in the animal rights movement see youth outreach as something they just write about in their newsletters or consisting of just throwing literature and lecturing at young people. It’s been quite a task to get some organizations involved and supportive of our work.

PETA2: What is different about your organization vs. other animal rights organizations?

PK: While there are many organizations out there that take on all the animal rights issues, like PETA, or specific issues like vegan outreach, the Student Animal Rights Alliance is the only organization that focuses on building a strong student/youth movement for animal rights. We dedicate our resources towards projects that inspire and empower youth to take action for the animals, like our national student animal rights conferences and upcoming grassroots training program. I was—and kind of still am (I turned 21 a few months ago)—a young animal advocate myself, so I know how important it is to have folks to turn to and learn from in my work for the animals. In the end, I think the most important niche we fill is our work in connecting young people and the general animal rights movement with each other.

PETA2: Tell us about the Liberation Now national student animal rights conference. What are the highlights? What can people expect?.

PK: In addition to featuring young activist speakers, the 2002 conference in Washington, D.C., also had such great folks as PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and vice president Lisa Lange, Carol Adams, who wrote The Sexual Politics of Meat, and Howard Lyman, aka “The Mad Cowboy,” who was Oprah’s codefendant in her … legal battle with [cattle ranchers]. We had workshops on such topics as grassroots organizing, veganizing your school cafeteria, and “So You Want to Work for an Animal Group,” and panels on the commonality of oppression, globalization, and animal rights and the moral and legal status of animals. The upcoming 2003 conference, which will take place near San Francisco at the University of California, Berkeley, will feature even more great workshops, panels, and speakers! We brought together over 320 students from 150 schools across the country with 60 speakers, authors, and organizers from throughout the animal rights movement in 2002. We’re working on making the 2003 conference even bigger and more fun.

PETA2: Tell us about your new grassroots training program.

PK: The human rights, labor, and environmental movements have worked for decades to develop young organizers for their movements, and you can see the amazing fruits of their efforts. Sadly, the animal rights movement does little in this area. Rather than leaving the important task of leadership recruitment and development to chance, we’re launching our grassroots training program for young activists. The program consists of a five-day hands-on training in organizing and public communication skills and a nine-month mentorship subprogram. We’re currently accepting applications for this exciting program.

PETA2: What would you like to see SARA and yourself accomplish in the next few years?

PK: This is more of an ongoing organizational commitment, but I would like to see that SARA has helped build a strong and diverse student/youth movement for animal rights. I would like to see regional and national student animal rights conferences, a training and mentorship program for young activists, and a thriving national student network. For myself, I would like to finish my B.A. and go to law/graduate school to get some letters in the back of my name to make my parents happy. And I’ve always wanted to become a vegan food critic or at least open my own restaurant, so maybe I’ll get working on this, too.

PETA2: What is your personal message to the 3,500 Street Team members of PETA2?

PK: The animals cannot speak for themselves—that’s why we have to speak up for them. When all of us get active, we will create a ripple effect that will turn the tide on animal exploitation. Join a group or start your own group, write a letter or organize a protest—there’s so much that all of us can do. Never give up, because the animals depend on us to be their defenders. And thank you for giving a voice to those who have none.

PETA2: Who helped you get SARA started?

PK: We’re still getting started and there are many people to list. But SARA really couldn’t have existed if it [weren’t] for my ex-roommates: Amanda Moeckel, who organized the first national student animal rights conference with me, and Paul Shapiro of Compassion Over Killing, who has done too much to list, especially in the area of keeping me sane.