Victory for Plant-based Milk and Freedom of Information in Schools, with Marielle Williamson (vegan), Part 2 of 2

Similar to many Americans, Marielle Williamson (vegan), the victor of the high school free speech case against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), was initially unaware of the suffering inherent in milk and dairy consumption. “I used to eat dairy and eggs, and really it was for animals, but I didn’t know that dairy and eggs and honey were also outcomes of animal cruelty. Every farm animal is used in some way. Beef comes from cows that were once used for dairy. Chicken comes from female chickens who were once used for eggs. So, it really is the same industry, it’s the same contribution, and it’s never been easier to transition to a plant-based diet than it is today. So, I would encourage them to make (diet) swaps and to aim for eating plant-based.” “I think all forms of activism are really important. I’ve done more on the ground activism, going to different events, talking to people on the street.”

In 2023, Marielle Williamson served on the Youth Steering Committee, contributing to national-level initiates. “They’re a collaboration between Chilis on Wheels, which is a New York based organization that provides free plant-based meals to people in need and Friends of the Earth. Essentially, we were a group of around 12 students, high school and college. And we worked on projects in the plant-based sector over summer.” “It’s really important to inform yourself about this (animal agriculture). I would love to see the world transition to a plant-based food system. Even if we changed everything, we were doing with transportation emissions, we still wouldn’t be tackling climate change without the discussion of our food system.” Marielle extends her gratitude to those who supported her journey, notably the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and New Roots Institute. “I’ve learned that no matter what barriers you face, no matter what happens, it’s really important to use your voice and to advocate, because you never know what changes could be made and could be possible as a result of it.”