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SAN RAFAEL, Calif (November 16, 2017) - Leading animal rights organizations from across North America have joined to launch Compassionate City, an ambitious campaign to make local changes for animals and enshrine an Animal Bill of Rights. Founding organizations Direct Action Everywhere, The Save Movement, and In Defense of Animals are taking a four-pronged approach that empowers neighborhoods, universities and cities to bear witness, save life, invest in peace, and enshrine an Animal Bill of Rights.

“An ethical revolution is stirring, as citizens of the world recognize that all animals deserve respect and compassion,” said Wayne Hsuing, leading Compassionate City. “We are starting a wildfire of change for animals, one neighborhood, university, or city at a time, and encourage everyone who cares for animals to get involved.”

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto are just three of the cities that already have local chapters poised to make positive changes for animals.

Horrific acts of cruelty are routine across the world, yet disguised by powerful corporations that profit on ignorance and fraud. Compassionate City will bear witness to the suffering of animals, and bring transparency and integrity to communities. Cities will formally acknowledge the consciousness of animals, require warning statements on or near products of violence, and ban fraudulent “humane” animal products.

The slaughter of animals is one of largest mass killings in history, and, if it continues unabated, threatens all life on this planet, including human beings. The campaign will end the slaughter of animals and build communities focused on rescuing, and not taking, life. Cities taking part will ban the slaughter of animals, provide sanctuary for exploited animals, run Carnivores Anonymous meetings, and protect the act of animal rescue.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are given to companies that exploit and kill animals, in one of the largest corporate welfare programs in history. Campaigners will reshape economic priorities to deter violence and support a peaceful world for all sentient life. Each Compassionate City will end subsidies for animal-exploiting corporations, promote animal-friendly alternatives, and create a regulatory system that protects all sentient life and funds sanctuaries for victims of violence.

Social movements over the past 200 years have expanded our moral universe beyond the frontiers of race, gender, and nationality. We will enshrine the constitutional right of all sentient beings to be free from violence and exploitation. The final goal of Compassionate City is to pass a resolution in support of the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, granting animals legal personhood and the right to live safe, happy, and free.

For more information, please visit CompassionateCity.Org

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Compassionate City is an initiative run by a coalition of animal protection organizations representing over 850,000 supporters and a combined 50-year history of fighting for animals.