VOICE FOR THE Combatting NYC Carriage Horse Mistreatment

A longtime lover and advocate for animals, the environment and wild places, Edita believes that animal protection is a social justice issue. Edita’s passionate belief that positive societal change begins with individual choices led her to NYCLASS, where getting political for animals begins with each person. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, a certified Holistic Health Counselor, and she earned a B.A in English Literature and Urban Studies from the City University of New York in 2000. Her belief in the interconnectedness of our treatment of animals, the environment, and each other is a guiding force in her life.

What made you decide to stand up for animal rights? Does your interest in nutrition and conservation, go back to your childhood?

Edita Birnkrant, Executive Director of NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets)

By Christian Shane Dougherty

Edita Birnkrant is Executive Director of NYCLASS. Prior to joining NYCLASS, Edita was the Campaigns Director for Friends of Animals, where for 12 years she worked on numerous local, national and international animal protection issues for both wildlife and domestic animals around the world, was integral in introducing and enacting legislation into law to benefit animals in New York state and others, and since 2007 has been a leader in the campaign to get carriage horses off New York City streets and other cities.

I have had a lifelong admiration, awe, and love of animals of all kinds from the time I was a young child. I always connected with animals and wanted to be around them. During college, I became more educated about social justice issues, including environmentalism, and I was drawn to learning more about animal rights causes. The more I learned, the more passionate I became about wanting to make a difference for animals and change the world for the better. I had a “lightbulb” moment after visiting a sanctuary for rescued and abused farm animals in 2000 and learning about how destructive and violent animal agriculture is to the animals, the environment and our health. It became obvious to me that switching to a vegan diet was the best choice for me and I was right! I went vegan about 19 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I attended a nutrition school to learn more and be a better advocate for a plant-based diet. As I began to get more involved and volunteer with animal rights groups I became passionate about wildlife issues as well. Ultimately my dedication to fighting for animal rights comes down to want to make the world more peaceful for everyone, and to create a more