Liberation BC began in 2004 when BC-born Ashley Fruno, who had been involved with animal rights work for years, decided to start a group that would be able to focus on a wide variety of issues as well as work from the front lines of the animal rights movement.

Our first event took place in October of 2004, with a "Bloody Butcher" protest outside a Langley KFC. On that same day, conveniently enough, KFC was holding a celebration to announce the opening of their new Taco Bell counter. "The KFC had a giant walking chicken bucket and taco out to attract attention," explains Ashley. "But the 20 or so protestors we had out blocked the mascots from being seen by anyone on the road."

Hundreds of flyers were handed out that day, and it was only the beginning. In the next few weeks, Liberation BC volunteers were out again, raising awareness about the suffering of lobsters in grocery store lobster tanks and animals killed for fur. Our first fur demonstration, with a "Fur Shame" theme, featured fur-clad people wearing paper bags over their heads. 45 protesters showed up and we received media coverage from four radio and television stations.

Since then we have had dozens of campaigns and hundreds of demonstrations. We've protested the Canadian seal hunt and the Cloverdale Rodeo, campaigned to get foie gras out of Vancouver's finest restaurants and fur out of Bebe, and educated the public about the plight of turkeys at Thanksgiving--and more!

Liberation BC has something for everyone, and we present endless opportunities for people to take action. Whether you only have a few minutes in the evening to write a letter or a few hours on the weekend to attend demonstrations, you can make a big difference for animals.

In the News

• Where's the Lack of Beef, Greenest City Action Team?, Roger Clarke, Georgia Straight Blog, May 29, 2009
• Understanding "Cruelty-Free" Eggs, Glenn Gaetz, Granville Online, March 31, 2009
• Spare the Beef, Save the Planet, Stefania Seccia, 24 Hours Vancouver, March 12, 2009
• Vancouver should cut down on meat for planet: animal rights groups, Stephen Hui, Georgia Straight Blog, March 11, 2009
• Naked anti-fur protest downtown, Matt Kieltyka, 24 Hours Vancouver, February 27, 2009
• The cruel truth about organic and free-range meat and dairy products, Becci Gindin-Clarke, Georgia Straight Blog, February 26, 2009
• National Anti-Fur Day Protest, Carmine Marinelli, 24 Hours Vancouver, February 11, 2009
• Foie gras is a dish best left unserved, Becci Gindin-Clarke, Georgia Straight Blog, January 14, 2009
• Animal rights activist arrested for mischief, Devon Moriarty, Asian Pacific Post, August 7, 2008
• Anti-foie gras protesters file complaint over arrest, Globe and Mail, July 25, 2008 (subscription required)
• Animal rights group tries to gag foie gras, Ian Austin, the Province, July 11, 2008
• Group pans restaurateur for foie gras statement, Globe and Mail, June 24, 2008 (subscription required)
• Fight over foie gras, Caroline Mallan, Toronto Star, May 19, 2008
• No appetite for foie gras protest among Kitsilano restaurateurs, Globe and Mail, April 23, 2008 (subscription required)
• Fur flies at Aberdeen Centre, Canada.com, December 21, 2007
• More to Thanksgiving Than Turkey, Matt Kielyka, 24 Hours, October 15, 2007
• Calf death prompts B.C. rodeo to cancel events, CTV.ca, May 22, 2007
• Animal activists get the boot, The Province, May 22, 2007
• Top Vancouver restaurateur drops foie gras, Mia Stainsby, Vancouver Sun, June 16, 2007
• Minister sees red over protest plan, Peter O'Neil, Canwest News Service, March 5, 2007
• Fur protest forces Bebe store to close, Wency Leung, Vancouver Sun, November 20, 2006
• B.C. group launches zoo boycott over giraffe's death, CBC.ca, July 9, 2006
• BC protesters get naked over fur coats, Globe and Mail, January 15, 2005 (subscription required)