It’s that time of year to enjoy fresh, local produce from your neighborhood farmers market! ARC visits many different markets throughout the season to promote Vegan University, ARC’s program to help you go – and stay – vegan. Vegan University offers free mentors, cooking classes, and online workshops to learn about Vegan Nutrition, Meal Planning, Eating Vegan on a Budget and more! We’ll show people the numerous benefits of going vegan by handing out free plant-based recipes to go with the fresh produce offered at markets. Stop by our table to say hello or sign up to volunteer with us! Click the date you’re interested in for more information and to access the volunteer form: 

Saturday, May 20th, 9:00-1:00 pm: Riverwalk Market Fair 

Saturday, June 3rd, 8:00-1:00 pm: Midtown Farmers Market 

Saturday, June 17th, 8:00-1:00 pm: Bloomington Farmers Market 

Sunday, July 9th, 8:30-1:00 pm: Kingfield Farmers Market

Saturday, July 15th, 8:00-1:00 pm: Bloomington Farmers Market

Saturday, July 29th, 8:00-1:00 pm: Midtown Farmers Market

Saturday, August 5th, 9:00-1:00 pm: Mill City Farmers Market

Saturday, October 7th, 9:00-1:00 pm: Riverwalk Market Fair 

Saturday, October 14th, 8:00-1:00 pm: Bloomington Farmers Market

Sunday, October 22nd, 8:30-1:00 pm: Kingfield Farmers Market

Join ARC for a free screening of the new vegan comedy feature film, Coffee Wars! The plot follows Jo, a vegan coffee shop owner and barista who navigates running her business in a dairy-dominated industry. The very successful vegan singer-songwriter and actress, Kate Nash, portrays Jo, the protagonist of the film. View the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqFRntzSyY

We’ll gather at the Minnehaha Masonic Lodge #165 on Saturday, May 20th, at 2:30 pm. Coffee and snacks will be complimentary!

Unfortunately, dairy isn’t the only social justice issue associated with coffee. Read more about “The Stirring Reality of Coffee” in Food Empowerment Project’s article.

ARC will be attending the Twin Cities Pride Festival again this year and we want you to join us! Volunteer at ARC’s table to hand out free guides to going vegan and plant-based recipes, offer samples of Babybel’s plant-based cheese, set up the virtual reality headsets for viewing, answer questions, and explain the benefits of going vegan. Join us on Saturday, Sunday, or both days, and have a good time with animal-loving friends! 

Sign up to volunteer by filling out the form. Let us know which date/time(s) you’re interested in and the activity you would like to do while you’re there: https://forms.gle/63yR3QwN4C9cV6Bv7

If you can’t volunteer, stop by and say hi! ARC’s table will be in the yellow section (Y88). Grab a free sample of plant-based cheese, some stickers and a guide to going vegan before you go!

Animals are not circus props! St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus continues to promote animal shows that include elephants, tigers, lions, camels, and bison. Animals used in circuses for human entertainment are deprived of anything that might satisfy their complex physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. With so many opportunities to captivate audiences using willing human performers, it’s a shame the Osman Shrine Circus chooses to continue exploiting animals.

Join us at any of the following times to stand in solidarity with the animals and educate the public about the cruelty involved in using animals for human entertainment.

On February 21st, Scott County officials will consider whether to revoke a conditional use permit for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival due to traffic and parking issues, and other permit violations at the Shakopee site. After years of protesting outside of the Renaissance Festival in opposition of their cruel animal rides, the Animal Rights Coalition is taking advantage of this opportunity to speak to Scott County and the public. ARC representatives and a longtime ARC volunteer (and Shakopee resident) will be present at the city council meeting to share concerns about the ethics of animal rides at the MN Ren Fest. Show support for the Ren Fest elephants by joining ARC at the public hearing on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00 pm. 

Other venues in the US, like the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, have already made the ethical decision to cancel cruel elephant rides. It’s time for Scott County to step up and do the same.

Photo taken by Brooke Reynolds (Captured by Brooke Photography): https://www.capturedbybrooke.com/…/Features/Ren-Fest-2017/

Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo is coming back to Minneapolis on February 3rd and 4th to glorify animal abuse for entertainment. This rodeo includes bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and barrel racing. The horses, bulls, and steer, often suffer broken ribs, backs, and legs, torn tails, punctured lungs, internal organ damage, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, snapped necks, and agonizing deaths. This year, they’re also allowing the public to ride ponies prior to the event. More information on why rodeos are cruel can be found here.  

Thankfully, some cities are making progress to eliminate or restrict this cruel excuse for entertainment. On  December 7, 2022, the Los Angeles City Council P.A.A.W. (Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare) Committee passed the Rodeo “Tools of Torment” Ban that will prohibit the use of the rodeo’s torture devices – specifically electric prods and shocking devices, spurs and rowels, and flank or bucking straps. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in Minnesota. 

Join ARC to stand up against the rodeo’s cruel animal abuse by peacefully protesting outside the Xcel Energy Center on Friday, the 3rd, from 6:30-7:45 pm. 

Sign up to volunteer here: https://forms.gle/Ctc5kvNF8Dz83y3P6

New York just became the 6th state to end the sale of puppies in pet stores! This includes cats and rabbits, as well. The new law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and takes effect in 2024, lets pet shops work with shelters to offer rescued or abandoned animals up for adoption rather than profiting off animals from commercial breeding operations, or puppy mills. “A puppy mill is a dog breeding operation in which the health of the dogs is disregarded in order to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits” (Avenson v. Zegart, 577 F. Supp. 958, U.S. District Court, Minnesota). To increase profits, mills breed more animals. Corners are cut such as staff shortages, lack of veterinary care, inadequate food and shelter, and other factors. Animals bred into these facilities are denied the ability to perform their natural behaviors such as exercising, socializing with others of the same species and humans, and in some cases, even seeing or feeling the fresh outdoors. To learn more about puppy mills and the benefits of a humane pet store ordinance, visit www.gohumaneblaine.com. 

Six states and over 390 localities across the county, including Roseville, Eden Prairie, St. Paul, Carver, and Cloquet, MN, have passed humane pet store laws. Unfortunately, there are still a few remaining pet stores in Minnesota that sell animals to consumers from commercial breeding operations. 

MN Pet Stores Supplied by Commercial Breeding Operations: http://www.minnesotansagainstpuppymills.com/mn-pet-stores.html

A Humane Pet Store Model in Minnesota “will help end puppy and kitten mill cruelty and prevent consumer heartache that can result from purchasing a sick or behaviorally challenged pet from a pet store” (gohumaneblaine.com). 

Take Action Here: http://www.gohumaneblaine.com/take-action.html 

Follow Minnesotan’s Exposing the Pet Trade for more information on ARC’s work to stop pet stores in Minnesota from buying and selling animals from puppy mills.