ORLANDO, FL – Congratulations to the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University – College of Law (FAMU Law) Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter for winning the 2019 Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter of the Year Award.
This award celebrates chapters that have shown incredible efforts in advancing the field of animal law and advocating for animals through original projects and initiatives. Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapters are a vital part of the growing animal law movement. Through raising awareness of the field of animal law, they are showing their law school community that animal protection is a serious social justice issue.
“We are so proud of this year’s recipients for their hard, valuable work on behalf of animals,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. “These are the next generation of animal lawyers, lawmakers, and judges, and they are critical in our fight to expand legal protections for animals.”
During the 2018-2019 school year, FAMU Law’s Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter took action for animals, with a busy and productive year. After the FAMU Law student chapter set its sights on advocating for the development of an animal law course, the first animal law class was offered at FAMU Law in fall 2019.
The student chapter also spearheaded a public education campaign to build support for Amendment 13, a ballot measure that would amend the Florida constitution to ban greyhound racing throughout the state. Amendment 13 passed overwhelmingly on November 6, 2018, with 69 percent of Florida voters approving the measure. The greyhound industry is now required to cease operations in Florida by 2021.
Additionally, FAMU Law’s student chapter co-hosted an animal law continuing legal education event in conjunction with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Florida Bar Animal Law Section. The chapter was also active in its local community, volunteering at animal sanctuaries, and participating in the Paws in the Park fundraiser for a local animal shelter.
American University Washington College of Law is also a 2019 award recipient.
Thank you to the chapters that applied for this year’s award and to all Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapters for your dedication to the animals.
For more information, visit aldf.org.
Contact: Natalia Lima, media@aldf.org, 201 679 7088
About the Animal Legal Defense Fund
Forty years of fighting for animals: The Animal Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1979 to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. To accomplish this mission, the Animal Legal Defense Fund files high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm; provides free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes; supports tough animal protection legislation and fights harmful legislation; and provides resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. For more information, please visit aldf.org.
Talking Points
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University – College of Law (FAMU Law) and American University Washington College of Law Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapters have won the 2019 Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter of the Year Awards.
- We are so proud of this year’s recipients for their hard, valuable work advancing the field of animal law and advocating for animals. These are the next generation of animal lawyers, and they are critical in our fight to change the law to better protect animals.
- During the 2018-2019 school year, FAMU Law’s Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter took action for animals, with a busy and productive year:
- After the FAMU Law student chapter set its sights on advocating for the development of an animal law course, the first animal law class was offered at FAMU Law in fall 2019.
- The student chapter also spearheaded a public education campaign to build support for Amendment 13, a ballot measure to amend the Florida constitution to ban greyhound racing throughout the state. The measure passed and the greyhound racing industry must cease operating in Florida by 2021.
- FAMU Law’s Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter co-hosted an animal law continuing legal education event in conjunction with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Florida Bar Animal Law Section.
- The chapter was also active in its local community, volunteering at animal sanctuaries, and participating in the Paws in the Park fundraiser for a local animal shelter.
- American University Washington College of Law is also a 2019 award recipient.