Grateful to have sung at @nard_nationalanimalrightsday. The National Animal Rights Day (NARD) is an annual day observed in multiple countries around the world on the first Sunday in June, for the purpose of giving a voice to all animals and raising awareness for their rights, until all animals are free from enslavement and their rights are established and protected by law.

On this day, special NARD events are held simultaneously in major cities around the globe. It starts with a Memorial Ceremony for the billions of animals who die every year by human hands. This is not only about eating animals. These animals are all victims of human choices. These animals are victims because of speciesism.

Instead of being ground up in a rendering plant or thrown into the garbage, activists clean them, treat them with dignity and, after the ceremony, cremate them and spread their ashes. It’s the only tenderness most of these animals will ever receive.

Thanks and gratitude to @michaelzenderphotography, who captured these and many more photos of the event. And thank you for @blogto for the mention.

If you’re interested in animal rights, check out the Animal Alliance of Canada which works with legislators to pass sound animal and environmental protection laws.