Simulposted with Voice of the Voiceless
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by Peter Young
Serious news.
A man set himself on fire Wednesday outside Ungar Furs in Portland, Oregon. After dousing himself with gasoline, he attempted to enter the store, shouting “There are animals dying! Animals dying!” After police extinguished the flames, he was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital where he later died.
The man was identified as 26-year-old Daniel Shaull from Kansas. Among the local activists I have spoken to, none are familiar with Shaull by name, nor recognized him as being a part of the active, long-running campaign against Ungar Furs. Yet the location and witness reports strongly indicate this man sacrificed himself to bring attention to the horrific treatment of animals on fur farms.
A news report, which aired prior to Shaull being announced dead, can be viewed here.
Ungar Furs is a retail fur store in Portland which has been the target of a prolific campaign by local activists. Ungar became a target after frequent protests successfully closed another Portland fur store, Schumacher Furs. The owners of Schumacher Furs gave animal rights activists full credit for shutting them down in 2007.
Amidst a range of speculation, I think it is important to assume this is a genuine action by a person driven to make the ultimate sacrifice by the severity of animal suffering. When every legal channel to affect change is closed, people will increasingly be driven to actions which bring both attention to the plight of animals, and a disruptive effect to those who kill them.
Shaull is not the first to give his life in the U.S. animal liberation struggle. This is a time to remember William Rodgers, who took his life in an Arizona jail in 2005 while being held for numerous Animal Liberation Front actions. It is also a time to remember Alex Slack, who took his life while awaiting trial for the A.L.F. bombing of the Utah Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative in 1999.
If anyone knows Daniel Shaull, please contact Voice of the Voiceless, so that we can make the full story of this action known.
To those who claim the animal rights movement is “violent”, this action should be yet another reminder that every casualty to date has fallen on our side. Daniel Shaull is just the latest victim.
“If this is what the world has made of us, then let it live with the consequences”.
-Peter Young
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Peter Young is NIO’s Senior Editor of Animal Liberation and the creator of VoiceOfTheVoiceless.org. Young is a veteran animal liberation activist and former political prisoner convicted for his role in liberating thousands of animals from fur farms across the country. Emerging from a grand jury indictment, 7 years of being wanted by the FBI, a federal prison sentence, and nearly 15 years in the animal liberation movement; today Peter is a frequent lecturer at universities and events, writer on liberation movements, and unapologetic supporter of those who work outside the law to achieve human, earth, and animal liberation.
If the nonhumans could fight back, their tormentors would have expired long ago. We have an obligation to expose the abusers. It is the LEAST we can do! I welcome your emails & contributions.
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This is a terrible news
If fur lovers had a coscience this death should make them feel ashamed of themselves.
I read some of the comments to the article, a disgusting bunch of losers laughing at him: probably they are the same who tell us we are terrorists and don’t feel compassions for humans…
He died a horrible, painful death, shouting his desperation until the end: this is something to seriously think about.
R.I.P. Daniel
I so hope this soulful individual is at peace now. He obviously suffered the torment of how evil people are to animals, as do many of us, but decided to make his exit in this world to forever champion his cause. Even, while on fire, yelled out for the animals. That is one of the most unselfish acts I have seen. Much love to his soul.
I often think – This world is rapidly becoming a place in which I cannot permit myself to live… Seems this weary warrior reached his end.
Very sad.
This just shows the utter desolation that this man felt. It’s a growing frustration for all of us seeking effective ways to stop the horrific suffering of animals. I have often thought of ways to stop this suffering and my thoughts were very extreme. I am desperate as many of us are.
This man died for what he believed in, how truly heroic. It is very difficult for me because I feel so powerless most of the time. This poor man couldn’t think of any other way.
RIP Daniel, you won’t be tormented anymore by the cries of the animals.
He was an hero.