By Ellie Israel
I’ve always been an animal lover, but I have not always been an activist. Fourteen years ago, I heard Bill Maher say that he was on the board of PETA, so I decided to look into this organization. When I did, my life changed overnight. I haven’t eaten meat since, and eight years ago, I gave up dairy foods. I also became an activist.
Being a member of PETA helped me put my love for animals into action. There are so many ways to be active for animals! When I was younger and healthier, I participated in some unique activities. Once, I lay on a cold sidewalk in front of a furrier while wearing a fur coat splattered with red paint and with a “steel-jaw trap” on my leg. During another protest, I sat inside a cage wearing a monkey mask in front of a NASA building. I also checked on animals in zoos and drive-through wild-animal display “parks.” Now, arthritis limits what type of activities I can participate in—but not my impact.
I now help educate people about animal rights by tabling, particularly at concerts. Tabling is a great way to teach the public about animal issues and concerns. It gives you the opportunity to interact with people and answer their questions about PETA and animal rights. It helps if you’re tabling at the concert of an artist who also speaks up for animals, and I’ve had great responses from crowds at several Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders concerts and also at a Morrissey concert.
Recently, I had the honor of tabling not one but two nights for Paul McCartney in Cleveland. It was so important to me that I rescheduled my total knee replacement surgery. It was so much fun talking to people who were Beatles fans in 1964 and sharing stories with them. Coincidentally, the first day of the concert was the 50th anniversary of when The Beatles first played in Cleveland. I was 14 years old at the time, and my dad drove me to the concert (knowing there would be no living with me if I didn’t go). I, of course, screamed and cried through the entire concert and didn’t hear the music at all.
My husband, Ed, tabled with me, and we were given two free tickets by Meat Free Monday, Paul’s tour group. I was able to watch the entire concert, and I felt like I was 14 years old again. I cried (but refrained from screaming) throughout the entire concert. Paul still has that magic.
When Ed went to get the car the first night of the show, he had to walk about five blocks. As he went down the steps of the parking deck, he tripped and injured his knee and twisted his ankle. Despite the discomfort, he insisted on going the second night and had to walk eight blocks to do so. I’m so fortunate to have such a dedicated husband!
I owe a huge thank-you to PETA for affording me the privilege of working with the group. I hope to be able to table and otherwise act for animals for many years to come, and I encourage everyone to do the same.
Just because we get older doesn’t mean that we have to be silent. Animals need our activism in any way that we can do it.
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Bio
I am 64 years old and retired. I worked as a nurse for 40 years. I’ve been married for 46 years to Ed Israel and have two grown children and four grandchildren, three dogs, and four cats. I am an avid reader and am particularly interested in medieval and Elizabethan English history—and, of course, anything that concerns animals.
