Pamela Anderson Speaks Out Against School Lunches

Vegan actress and activist Pamela Anderson spoke Tuesday in front of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) at an event organized by 14-year-old vegan Lila Copeland. Anderson opened her speech by stating that “kids today are appalled to learn that animals killed for cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets live crowded by the thousands in dark, filthy sheds, are mutilated, and are slaughtered by having their throats slit while they are still conscious.” Anderson pleaded for the LAUSD to “[offer] kids the chance to choose meals that are free of cruelty,” which she believes encourages compassion. The actress/mother revealed that not every child is lucky enough to have a lunch sent with them to school from home—as she did for her children—and asked the school board to consider putting nutritious vegan lunch options on the menu throughout Los Angeles. “Giving 600,000 students the ability to make eco-friendly decisions every single day gives them the tools and the power to help reverse climate change, conserve water, prevent pollution, and fight obesity,” Anderson concluded. Anderson has recently used her fame to bring awareness to animal agriculture’s effect on the California drought, the cruelty inherent in the foie gras industry, and the lack of vegan options in the country’s prison system.