Liberation League

First Actions Guide

Welcome to your activism guide

At APEX Advocacy, it’s essential that we maintain clarity and consistency in how we define and guide new community members through their first steps in animal activism. This document serves as an internal resource to outline the parameters of what constitutes a "first action" and ensures that our approach aligns with APEX’s mission and values. By setting clear guidelines, we can effectively support new members—whether they are vegans, pre-vegans, or returning advocates—in finding meaningful, impactful ways to engage.

Our focus is to center BIPOC leadership and participation in all recommended actions, fostering a movement that reflects our commitment to collective liberation. This guide provides the internal structure needed to ensure that each new advocate’s first action is not only accessible and impactful but also contributes strategically to APEX’s broader goals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a "First Action" and why is it important?

A "first action" is defined as a deliberate and impactful contribution to animal activism. This could be an individual effort or participation in an organized BIPOC-led initiative, ranging from creative outreach to systemic advocacy. While the approaches vary, the essence remains the same—engaging people in meaningful, purposeful activism tailored to their unique abilities and interests.

Each first action contributes to a larger campaign or systemic change. For example, rescuing animals, bearing witness, or attending protests are not isolated acts—they are pieces of campaigns with broader goals, such as ending exploitative practices in the prison-industrial complex, or advocating for legislative reform in animal farming.

Best Practices When Adding "First Actions" to this document...

  • To encourage participation, we adopt inclusive language that meets people where they are and fosters growth without judgment.
    Avoid moral purity language: Replace phrases like "vegans do this" with "animal advocates can contribute to justice by…"

  • Build bridges: Use “nonhuman animals” but include “all beings” to inspire empathy.

  • Frame activism as universal: Instead of focusing purely on veganism, emphasize shared values like reducing suffering and promoting justice.

  • Acknowledge contributions outside diet: Suggest actions beyond veganism, such as community education, rescuing animals, or opposing systemic exploitation.

  • Intersectionality in focus: Tie animal justice issues to overlapping systems of oppression to resonate with diverse audiences.

"First Action" Types & Definitions

Each ‘first action’ resonates within APEX’s campaigns while allowing advocates to engage according to their comfort level. Below are options, each tied to broader campaigns and goals. Additionally, this is a living document and as such, is not restricted to only the types of actions below. If there is an additional category that should be added to this list, please reach out to info@apexadvocacy.org so the category can be added!

Other types of first actions (leafleting, vigils, artivism, sanctuary volunteering, systemic advocacy) will similarly tie individual engagement to overarching movements.

    • Focus: Engage in BIPOC-led initiatives that directly address systems of harm.

    • Larger Goal: Undermine exploitative industries while amplifying BIPOC leadership.

    • Examples: Rescuing animals, disrupting unethical practices.

    • Focus: Ensure inclusive and diverse participation that reflects community stories.

    • Larger Goal: Mobilize public pressure to demand systemic change.

    • Examples: Vigils, marches, rallies.

    • Focus: Partner with local BIPOC organizations to amplify intersectional experiences.

    • Larger Goal: Create awareness and shift cultural attitudes.

    • Examples: Distributing liberatory messages on systemic racism in food systems.

    • Focus: Provide content tailored to diverse audiences and cultural contexts.

    • Larger Goal: Use digital platforms for storytelling and systemic reform advocacy.

    • Examples: Hashtag campaigns (#APEXLiberationLeague), virtual workshops.

    • Larger Goal: End the Angola Prison Rodeo and broaden discourse around exploitation in the prison-industrial complex.

    • Examples: Undercover investigations into human and animal exploitation at Angola, community workshops on the intersection of animal justice, systemic racism, and exploitative labor practices, call-to-action campaigns (e.g., petitions, lobbying).

Affiliated Organizations & Groups

An about message about our affiliated orgs

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Non-Region Specific Actions