When I first met Taj Uppal, he came across to me as soft-spoken but confident and determined. I remember being unsurprised to later see a video of Taj, now an attorney, attempting to give a police officer animal cruelty evidence of a Meyenberg goat milk factory farm in California. Taj had just helped to rescue emaciated baby goats from the Whole Foods supplier and had returned, along with his fellow rescuers, in the hopes of helping the rest of the animals. Taj was instead arrested, and later charged with felonies. He and three others face over 6 years in prison for their role in the rescue.
Taj is putting an enormous amount on the line for his convictions: specifically a promising law career, and his own freedom. But what so resonates with me is the pain and guilt he feels for the suffering that is shared amongst his loved ones. It's something I share with Taj, when taking on high-risk actions, the idea of causing stress and worry to those closest to me is an enormous weight to carry. I really appreciate that Taj is open and vulnerable enough to share it with the world. I hope that Taj's family sees what a truly remarkable person they raised. He embodies some of the best qualities we can have as people: compassion, kindness, courage, humility, sacrifice. Taj's actions were out of love for suffering animals, and a burning desire to alleviate that suffering. They should be celebrated, not prosecuted.
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