I am extremely proud of my record of accomplishments in the animal rights movement.
My 1981 Action for Life Conference is viewed as a birthplace of the U.S. animal rights movement, including FARM, the Farm Animal Rights Movement
In 1983, I launched the World Day for Farmed Animals, which has been observed every year since throughout the world
In 1985, I launched the Great American Meatout, which has gained hundreds of proclamations from governors and mayors
In 2011, I launched 10 Billion Lives, a tour of colleges and rock concerts showing a graphic video and collecting thousands of vegan pledges
My proudest accomplishment has been the Animal Rights National Conference, which brought our movement together for the past 20 years
In the Fall of 2017, after 42 years of single-minded, 24/7 dedication to our movement, I began my retirement process. I turned over most of our programs, including staff and funding to another organization. I turned over our conference to a valued associate. And, I launched a search for just the right person to take over and build up FARM to its former glory and beyond.
That search paid of last July, when former employee Eric Lindstrom announced his availability. Eric's outstanding service as FARM's executive director has allowed me to turn my attention to writing my biweekly www.TheVeganBlog.org, as well as a book about my journey from the Holocaust to a lifelong struggle for animal rights.
As most successful people, I have had my share of detractors, though none as determined as Marc Gunther. Marc writes an occasional blog named Nonprofit Chronicles, which has no connection with the highly respected Chronicle of Philanthropy. He also happens to be a neighbor and a former fan (https://nonprofitchronicles.com/2017/12/05/alex-hershaft-holocast-survivor-animal-advocate/).
In 2017, Marc launched a series of articles designed to destroy the reputations and careers of male leaders of the animal rights movement. In the beginning of 2018, it was my turn. Among the scores of happy former FARM employees, he found and chose to interview a half dozen who did not leave FARM under happy circumstances. Among the hundreds of happy conference attendees, he found and chose to interview a half dozen who were not happy with the conference. His 2018 article was based on these interviews. Yet, I and FARM survived.
Today, he is using the distinguished Medium platform to regurgitate his tired 2018 claims, without even the courtesy of talking to me. Once again, I and FARM will survive and continue to save animal lives.
Alex Hershaft
