The UK Animal Rights March 2025 and the Edinburgh March for Animals have both announced their rosters of speakers and performers, and what stands out is how homogenous those lineups are: entirely white. At first glance, some might shrug this off as a coincidence or argue that what matters most is the message about animal liberation. But when you look deeper, it’s clear that a lack of racial and cultural diversity on stage isn’t just an oversight – it undermines the credibility and inclusivity of the movement itself.
Animal rights is a cause that intersects with so many areas of life: climate change, racial justice, food systems, Indigenous land rights, and global labor struggles. It does not and cannot exist in a vacuum. When events like these present only white voices, they erase the contributions of activists of colour and signal – whether intentionally or not – that leadership in this space is reserved for a narrow demographic. That message alienates communities whose lived experiences and insights are essential to building a more holistic and intersectional movement.
Representation matters not just symbolically but practically. Diverse voices bring perspectives shaped by different cultural traditions, struggles, and strategies of resistance. They can shed light on issues like food apartheid, the exploitation of workers in global supply chains, and the ways factory farming impacts communities of color disproportionately. Without those voices, animal rights risks being seen as a movement for a privileged few rather than a call for universal liberation. This lack of diversity limits outreach, diminishes the breadth of ideas in circulation, and stifles growth at a time when inclusivity is essential to making lasting change.
It also speaks to implicit bias in how leadership is recognized and platformed. By continually elevating only white voices, these events reinforce the idea that authority and expertise in animal advocacy belong to one group alone. This is not just inaccurate – it’s unjust. Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour have been advocating for animals and the environment for generations, often connecting these struggles to broader fights for justice and survival. Their absence on these stages is not a reflection of a lack of leaders in their communities but of who gets invited and whose work gets amplified.
If the animal rights movement is serious about justice, then its events need to embody that principle. That means intentionally diversifying speaker lineups, collaborating with organizations led by people of color, and addressing the barriers that prevent underrepresented activists from participating. It means seeing inclusivity not as a token gesture, but as central to the mission of liberation. An all-white lineup is not just “not cool” – it’s a contradiction of the very values these marches claim to uphold.
