Henry Spira, pictured here with the cat who inspired him to become an animal rights activist, was one of the founders of the modern animal liberation movement. Although he has been portrayed as a moderate in official histories, Henry was actually quite radical, and participated in what is widely thought of as the first ALF raid in North America. (The group actually called themselves Animals in Distress, but said in public statements that they sympathized with the British ALF. In broad daylight, dressed as lab workers, they rescued two dogs, two guinea pigs, and a cat.) As a militant socialist, civil rights activist, and an early adherent of feminism, Spira set the early bar for intersectionality and broad based, compassionate direct action.
(via theveganfashionista)