A new membership organization for the life and liberty of all animals
When I interviewed David Michelson in September about IP28, his Oregon ballot initiative to create a sanctuary state for animals, he said he was also creating a membership-based animal advocacy organization.
And he has. The National Animal Life and Liberty Association (NALLA) is here.
David, whose big ask is that we not kill any animals for any reason, created NALLA to “secure local, state, and national protection for sentient animals’ life and liberty, and to concentrate the efforts of advocates for animal protection toward that end.”
On the website, the invitation to join NALLA begins with a quote from Marshall Rosenberg, the psychologist who developed Nonviolent Communication: “All the social change efforts boil down to three words: ask, ask, ask. To reach all of your objectives you have to ask, ask, ask. And if you don’t want to be the only one doing all of the asking, you got to ask some people to help you do some asking.”
As a 501(c)(4) advocacy nonprofit, NALLA will work through education, research, community organizing, legislation, and ballot measures across the country.
But the first order of business is building the membership. That’s where you come in.
Members can elect directors, run for office, vote on changes, and attend meetings. David told me that increasing democratic participation in animal advocacy is what excites him most.
David modeled NALLA on the American Woman Suffrage Association. Just as that movement had staying power, he said, winning the protections we want for animals will take an organization with patience and persistence.
I asked him what he’d love to see for the movement a few years from now. He dreams of a packed annual convention that’s full of lively discussion as members prepare for state campaigns. Would you like to attend?
If you are considering membership, David says the material on yesonip28.org will give you a good sense of what the advocacy will look like. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, linked on NALLA’s About page, explain how the organization will run.
Join at campaignforall.org.
Disclosure: I am a member of NALLA, and I am looking forward to participating!
