Navigating Oppressive Ideologies at Activist Forums and Events
It is not the obligation of people of color to educate white individuals about the perils of white supremacy, and when we choose to engage in this work, it is because, in that moment, it feels accessible to do so. That said, we recognize and deeply appreciate the efforts of activists of conscience, many of whom are white, who call attention to and challenge the platforming of harmful ideologies at animal rights events and forums. Their work in exposing these injustices is invaluable. At the same time, our decision to attend and engage with these spaces brings its own set of complexities, which demands further reflection.
Among the many manifestations of white supremacy, Zionism remains a spectacularly depraved example. And as a Black-led organization, we will state without hesitation that the platforming of white supremacy, in all forms, is nothing new to us. We know this truth intimately because anti-Blackness is global, systemic, and unrelenting in its presence. It weaves through every corner of society, reinforcing oppression on a scale too vast to be ignored.
Harmful ideologies do not exist in isolation in these spaces. Sometimes the issue is the individuals platformed to speak. Other times it lies with the organizers, the attendees, or even the funders whose values and actions undermine the principles of justice and liberation beyond animal rights. Predictably, some of the most prominent funders in the animal rights movement and even executive producers of the films and documentaries we often hold up as educational cornerstones fail to uphold these principles. Whether through their public stances, private behaviors, or institutional power, these individuals and entities perpetuate systems of domination and exclusion that are antithetical to true liberation.
This is the normative standard we’ve encountered in white-led movements focused on individual behaviors rather than systemic or collective transformation. Before, after, and during genocide, George Floyd, the MeToo movement, and countless other so-called turning points, we’ve seen these spaces perpetuate oppressive ideologies. Racism, classism, anti-Blackness, white exceptionalism, cisheteropatriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, transantagonism, and Zionism are all upheld in these frameworks. These forms of oppression are inseparable from the foundational systems of capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism that shape the modern nonprofit industrial complex. Unsurprisingly, this is why BIPOC-led organizations receive just 4% of the funding their white counterparts enjoy. This status quo can and must change.
To engage in these spaces is to wrestle with the knowledge that those attending, funding, or organizing may not share or respect our broader intersectional values. Yet our participation is not uninformed or complicit; it is strategic. We engage to identify resources and leverage points that can benefit our communities and liberation movements, knowing these spaces, deeply flawed as they may be, can sometimes hold tools that we must repurpose for meaningful change.
Complicity and Hypocrisy
We fully acknowledge that none of us are free from complicity in systems of oppression. Whether it’s buying groceries, using the internet, or paying taxes, surviving within these interconnected systems often means contributing to them. It’s a painful hypocrisy we all live with and one that informs, rather than undermines, our strategies. The reality is that you cannot entirely disentangle yourself from these systems until they have been dismantled. What matters is whether you ignore your complicity or confront it strategically. For us, entering these problematic spaces is an intentional act of confrontation, not denial.
When critics suggest withdrawal or disengagement as the "pure" solution, we ask them to reflect honestly on the systems in which they, too, are entangled. Purity, in this context, becomes a false ideal, one that distracts from the actual work of liberation. True accountability lies not in isolation but in how we choose to challenge oppressive ideologies head-on.
For those who may interpret our earlier assertion that “when BIPOC activists choose to engage with these spaces, it is exactly that—a choice” as an oversimplification, we offer this clarification. Technically, all engagement is a choice, but in practical terms, many of us do not have the luxury of opting out. Survival—for ourselves, for our families, and for the movements we lead—is often deeply intertwined with our ability to stay visible in and responsive to these spaces. Walking away would not merely be a statement; it could be a death sentence, not just for our organizations but for the communities we serve.
The Duality of Duty and Survival
We believe it is important to recognize that this work isn’t just our duty. For many of us, it is also a means of survival. The nonprofit model is not the endgame; it is a starting point that allows us to do the larger, systemic work that fuels campaigns like our P.A.A.W. initiative. This path allows us to sustain ourselves and our communities while working toward something much more profound and transformative. Opting out entirely would halt that momentum and extinguish opportunities to challenge harmful systems from within. We understand the realities of the nonprofit industrial complex, and we consider this model the scaffolding that supports the construction of future systems rooted in collective liberation.
The Power of Showing Up
We believe that our presence in these spaces is not just another tactic; it is essential to the broader fight for collective liberation. Through our engagement, we’ve witnessed how even the staunchest "animals-only" activists come to understand the need for an intersectional, collective liberation framework. These transformations don’t happen in a vacuum—they happen because BIPOC voices are present to challenge assumptions, reframe narratives, and demand better.
We also recognize the power dynamics that make BIPOC voices absent by design. Often, the very systems of oppression we dismantle thrive on our removal, treating our withdrawal as a win. Many of these spaces would rather we stay silent, conform, or leave entirely. And, while boycotts and withdrawals are critical tactics in some contexts, our experiences within the small, heavily white vegan movement reveal something critical: our collective absence does not collapse the oppressive structures at play. It pacifies them. For this reason, we will continue to challenge where we see fit, showing up to force dialogue that would otherwise never happen.
Knowing What’s Beyond Reproach
We believe in discerning where our engagement holds power and where it does not. Some spaces, forums, and events are beyond reproach or meaningful change. Whether due to entrenched interests, unmovable power structures, or outright hostility toward any intersectional framework, not all spaces are worth the effort. We are clear that our strategy includes ongoing evaluation of where we spend our energy. Some of the spaces we engage with today may, tomorrow, prove to be futile pursuits of change, and if so, we will not hesitate to redirect our work elsewhere.
We respect those who decide not to show up to these spaces. We share their frustrations. But we reject the notion that our choice to engage undermines the ultimate goal of liberation. If shared trust is intact, there need not be a moral litmus test for how we approach the work. Our goals are aligned, even when our strategies differ.
Public and Private Strategies
Our approach to applying pressure is not monolithic. Sometimes, we take public stands to expose harmful ideologies or demand accountability. At other times, we engage privately, pressuring organizers and funders behind the scenes to make critical changes. Both methods require careful calculation, and both are equally valid tools in the fight against oppressive systems.
This dual approach is not a compromise; it is a recognition of the complexity of power dynamics in activist spaces. We know when to work from within and when to draw the line with cut-and-dry demands. Strategic flexibility is not a weakness but a deliberate choice that allows us to maximize our impact while navigating the constraints imposed by these systems.
Addressing Concerns About Tokenization
Tokenization is a reality we’ve long been familiar with. From being placed on panels as symbols of "diversity" to being acknowledged only during "heritage" months, the structures that tokenize BIPOC activists are nothing new. However, we reject the notion that our presence equates to complicity. Showing up does not play into the organizers’ hands unless we allow it, and we simply refuse to blend into the background or stand silently in photo ops.
Our participation is an act of overt dissent. We use these platforms to call out tokenism, disrupt comfort, and plant the seeds of radical transformation. The spaces we engage in will change not because those in power willingly offer it, but because we demand it. We show up for the activists who come after us, to ensure they inherit movements less hostile, more open, and increasingly grounded in liberation.
Leading by Example and Inspiring Change
We understand that our actions set a precedent for others. The work we do today, whether it involves private disruption or public confrontation, carries the potential to inspire and teach. This is why we calculate every move we make, balancing the immediate need to challenge harmful ideologies with the long-term goal of reshaping these spaces entirely.
We believe that applying pressure on event organizers is both a responsibility and an imperative. We engage publicly and privately, knowing that disruption and demands become necessary tools in the fight for justice. Boycotts and withdrawals alone will not dismantle oppressive ideologies. And while they hold the power to do so broadly, in this specific context, we’ve seen that marginalized voices often need to stay present to disrupt the status quo.
We’ve said what we said. These spaces can and must change, and our presence is how we demand that change. Whether you align with our strategy or not, we remain resolute in our approach. We trust that collective liberation is the destination, even if there are multiple routes to get there. If you cannot trust the work we’re doing because our path is different from yours, so be it. We have work to do.
Until All Are Free
Our presence may unsettle, even enrage, those invested in maintaining the status quo. But that’s the point. By continuing to show up, speak out, and break barriers, we ensure that liberation is not just an idea but a force reshaping the movements around us. We’ll never stop fighting within, disrupting from without, and building radical new models of collective justice.
Silence is complicity. And whether you choose to opt in or stay away, we see you.
Until all are free.
– APEX Advocacy
