I spoke to Jake Conroy - a delightful human being and dear friend who has spent the last 30 years as an activist, most notably in the spaces of animal liberation and environmentalism (though he’d be quick to remind you that all oppressions are interlinked). In addition to his current role with the Rainforest Action Network, Jake also travels internationally talking to folks about activism and the power each of us has to make a positive impact in the world.
Over the years I’ve talked to Jake many times about the evolution of his own activism since he started in the 90s. “In the beginning I got involved and wanted to do everything.” He was riled up by Seattle’s hardcore metal scene and the messages of bands like Earth Crisis (which I had to look up because I’m not cool).
Speaking to the efforts within the animal rights movement, Jake says, “At that time [and often still today] the mentality was, If you get enough people to go vegan it will impact supply and demand and stop production of meat. That’s the dream, but that requires a mass amount of people and is pretty unrealistic.”
Jake: “Early on I saw some activism out of England called “pressure campaigning” - picking one thing and pressing that until it changed. It’s very focused on tangible outcomes, and I knew [right away] that I wanted to do that type of activism.”
Andrew: When it comes to activism - especially within the trans community - many of us feel stuck or helpless, powerless even. We’re at a loss for what to do and what sort of impact we can actually have. It’s exhausting and discouraging to have to work so hard for (what feels like) the right to exist.
Jake: Activism isn’t a straight line, you’re gonna lose more than you win. It’s important to be really strategic - think two steps ahead. Consider - what happens ten years from now if I do X? All of that work means that we’re slowly building a community and structure that future generations can build upon.
Start by finding and building community, and then find what you’re really good at and connect with people who have complementary skill sets within that community. Then pick a target that is achievable and has at least a solid foundation of support from the general public, and we tackle those specific projects one by one - building the blocks to bring the movement forward.
Years ago we were working on this pressure campaign to get a separate company to sell their shares - essentially end their investment and involvement - in an animal testing company. A group of older women in south Florida, literal grandmas, wrote letters every week for 6 months urging this first company to sell their shares. When we finally succeeded, the company said that they didn't want to fund animal cruelty, but also that they wanted “the granny letters to stop.”
It’s such a good reminder that you never know what’s going to change someone. And you don’t have to change everyone; you just have to change the minds of a handful of decision makers. We don’t need the majority of people on our side to get pressure campaigning to work. We just need strategy and smart campaigning.
[And if all of this feels overwhelming, remember that] the person baking the cupcakes for the bake sale is just as valuable as the person writing the check. Just existing is a radical act. Being in space and in community - being seen - that is legitimate activism.
A huge thank you to Jake Conroy for taking the time to talk, and for his lifelong commitment to contributing to a better world.
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