Cesar Chavez was a human rights activist with a primary focus on farm workers’ rights. However, he also was an animal rights activist and received the In Defense of Animals (IDA) Lifetime Achievement Award. Many do not know Cesar Chavez was a vegetarian and at times a vegan!

Here is a quote from Cesar Chavez’s acceptance speech for the In Defense of Animals (IDA) Lifetime Achievement Award:

“We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to make all people understand that animals

are fellow creatures. That we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves and that

the basis for peace is respecting all creatures. That’s the basis for peace. We cannot hope to

have peace until we respect everyone, respect ourselves, and respect animals and all living

things – and that’s the basis we see the beginning of peace. We know we cannot defend and

be kind to animals until we stop exploiting them – exploiting them in the name of science,

exploiting animals in the name of sport, exploiting animals in the name of fashion, and yes,

exploiting animals in the name of food.”

Here is a video of Cesar Chavez’s acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award from In Defense of Animals (IDA) [starts at 43 seconds]: