One Year In: Reflections and the Ongoing Genocide

One year in, and this gruesome genocide rages on. From the silence of fellow vegans to being accused of not being "real" vegans for speaking out, and even witnessing outright support for the genocide from within the community, this genocide has exposed some of the darkest aspects of humanity. Join me as I reflect on the past year alongside our panelists—Anas, Akbar, Laura, and Waseem. The session will be recorded, and an edited version will be shared on YouTube. Anas, co-founder of Plant the Land, a Gaza-based vegan food justice and community project, will join us from Gaza to share his lived experience enduring the ongoing genocde. Laura, a Jewish American and co-founder of Plant the Land, is a lifelong "artivist" and graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed throughout the Middle East with a circus troupe, taught in China, Nicaragua, and at Wesleyan University's Green Street Arts Center, performed off-Broadway, and mentored homeless youth through the arts. Waseem, a Palestinian vegan and food blogger, educates others about the connection between Arab cuisine and veganism, highlighting how cultural appropriation contributes to the oppression of living beings. Akbar Ali is a collective liberation activist with experience in both animal and human rights movements. His advocacy began during the anti-war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq and has since expanded to include reproductive justice, immigration, environmentalism, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equality. He currently serves as Director of Communications & Public Engagement for APEX Advocacy.