Protesting through violence: an activist’s unwavering commitment to animal rights

An Auckland-based animal rights activist continues to oppose animal exploitation, despite being violently attacked multiple times while protesting.

Anonymous for the Voiceless animal rights activist, Deno Arthur Stock says that throughout his seven years of advocacy, he has been kicked in the back, and had his ribs broken, which required hospital treatment.

Despite the violence, Stock continues to organise bi-weekly “Cube of Truth” demonstrations on Queen Street, where masked animal activists stand statue-like whilst holding video devices that play footage of animal-exploitation.

Stock says getting justice for the animals is the reason he perseveres, and that passersby tend to be well-behaved and supportive.

“I just talked to someone who, after seeing the footage on display, said ‘I am going to go vegan’ and tell all of my friends to watch this.

“That’s worth it, that one conversation.”

Anonymous for the Voiceless has 375 chapters in 61 countries and follows standard practice in their Cube of Truth demonstrations.

The Cube Team hold televisions playing footage from the Australian documentary Dominion, which used hidden cameras to showcase how some animals are treated in slaughterhouses, feedlots, and research centers.

The Outreach Team, which Stock leads, circle the televisions and engage with interested onlookers.

“Our hope is to turn everyone vegan. It might not happen in my lifetime, but it will slowly happen,” Stock says.

More than 100,000 volunteers have joined Anonymous for the Voiceless since its start in 2016, but the group has also gained disapproval from many onlookers, who sometimes get violent.

The organisation’s video devices have been smashed on multiple occasions and they have had people stand in front of the screens eating Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Auckland local, Jacob Fruean, objects to the demonstrations and questions their ability to initiate change.

“I think this is entirely unnecessary because I haven't seen a single veganism protest that's actually made a difference.

“The big companies aren't going to listen to something like this.

“Their eyes are set on making money,” he says.

Although Stock says their demonstrations have made a difference, he acknowledges capitalism as a reason that animal exploitation occurs.

“They’re making millions out of innocent animals.

“We’ve manipulated these animals and treated them like a product and it’s all to do with money,” Stock says.

Another passerby, Maxwell Wang, acknowledged that upon seeing the footage, he has come to believe that some of the animal slaughtering practices need to change.

“I think it’s okay to kill and eat animals but from the videos I'm watching, some of the things that need to be improved are the hygiene and actually preparing them properly,” Wang says.