The Marauders as Animal Rights Activists

7/19/2022

It has been 23 long years since Potterheads were introduced to Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs and their mischievous misadventures at Hogwarts. Fans have fanatically fantasised about the Marauders in their youth as so many questions remain unanswered.

To celebrate the anniversary of when we solemnly swore we were up to no good, we have cast our inner eye to focus on our beloved Marauders as magically inspiring animal rights activists. Read on to find out what type of activist we think each Marauder would be!

Moony: The Empathetic Educator

Stepping into the moonlight is our most beloved DADA teacher and lover of (vegan!) chocolate, Professor Remus Lupin. Professor Lupin guides the Hogwarts students during their third year in overcoming their deepest fears whilst simultaneously battling his own. He shows an unlimited amount of compassion and patience, particularly when persisting with Harry’s private Patronus lessons. Lupin recognises the importance of educating his students to empower them to make the right choices.

The animal rights movement is inundated with educators and everyday empathetic heroes who are keen to spread the compassionate word about the importance of creature liberation. The practice of “attractivism” (aka: living the life you preach in a positive and fulfilling way) can empower those around you to follow in your footsteps and embrace a compassionate challenge. They are the unsung heroes of the movement. They have the patience to answer questions, share creature-free recipes, and support you if you make a mistake. We can imagine Remus keeping students behind after class to answer questions as to why it is unjust to wear sheep’s wool and fur while suggesting creature-friendly alternatives.

Wormtail: The Undercover Investigator

A doting misfit desperate to belong, Peter Pettigrew certainly stands out as one of the most controversial characters from the Harry Potter series. It is unveiled in Prisoner of Azkaban that Peter Pettigrew framed Sirius Black for murdering Muggles and guiding the Dark Lord to Godric’s Hollow on that horrifying Hallows Eve. Although he has made many a dire mistake, we are impressed with Wormtail’s ability to use his Animagus form as the Weasley’s companion, Scabbers the rat, to evade capture for 13 years. Tenacious and determined, Peter overcame the odds to eventually resurrect Lord Voldemort in Goblet of Fire.

In the realm of animal rights, undercover agents conduct some of the most challenging actions of creature liberation and education. Their covert investigations penetrate the most mortifying, abusive, and invisible locations of animal cruelty across the globe, including factory farms, laboratories, and entertainment complexes such as zoos and circuses.

With a swig of Polyjuice Potion, they assume a false identity to deceive the organization they are working for and collect evidence to expose the injustice to the wider world. To ensure the Disillusionment Charm works effectively, undercover investigators actually partake in the abuse they are seeking to obliterate – from barbaric farming practices through to slaughter. This is not a task for the faint-hearted!

In 2021, a report was released about the lives of four undercover investigators* and the horrific hurdles they overcame. Heroes such as these individuals collect essential evidence, such as video footage, to launch crucial campaigns and help end creature cruelty practices.

*Trigger Warning: The experiences described and images shown in this article are a distressing snippet into the lives of Muggle undercover animal rights investigators and may be upsetting to Protego supporters.

Padfoot: The Fearless Liberator

Bold, daring, and reckless at times, Sirius Black was a fierce fighter for his friends and godson, Harry. In Order of The Phoenix, he was frustrated being trapped within Number 12 Grimmauld Place and not battling it out with Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Sirius treasured freedom above all else and was never one to wait silently on the sidelines. On occasion, Sirius would use his Animagus form, a shaggy black dog, to sneak into the shadows of Hogwarts, Platform 9 ¾, and Hogsmeade. We can only imagine how successful he would be in rescuing animals from dire conditions!

Similarly, direct action activists such as those in organizations like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Hunt Saboteurs risk their lives to ensure the freedom of others. These activists are commonly known for taking illegal methods to achieve very moral outcomes for animals. By liberating animals who are imprisoned in testing laboratories, entertainment facilities, and factory farms, these activists sometimes face prosecution and imprisonment for freeing the animals. One of the most infamous convictions was the SHAC 7, who were part of the “Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC)” group.

SHAC mobilized a targeted, direct action campaign of demonstrations, educational media, and, on occasion, property damage against Huntingdon Life Sciences. They were considered to be America’s number one domestic terrorist threat and six of The SHAC 7 defendants were convicted on federal charges and imprisoned. The Protego Foundation’s co-founder, Tylor Starr, co-hosts the podcast Radicals and Revolutionaries with one of the SHAC 7, Jake Conroy (aka: The Cranky Vegan), which explores the histories of Riddikulusly radical individuals who have revolutionized the animal rights movement and continue that fight today.

Prongs: The Loyal Leader

James Potter gets a lot of criticism in the magical community for his treatment of a young, stewing Severus Snape. A natural-born leader on and off the Quidditch pitch, James would often rally his pals - sometimes to coordinate cruel pranks against Severus and other times to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Although we don’t know all that much about James Potter, we know that he matured into a young man who dedicated his adult years to defying the Dark Lord with The Order of the Phoenix. Always fighting fiercely for his friends and family, we couldn’t help but think that he would make a devoted leader for any animal rights organization!

Whether it’s Ingrid Newkirk of PETA, Juliet Gellatey of Viva!, or Lauren Ornelas of The Food Empowerment Project, all great animal rights organizations need a leader who inspires those around them and calculates a path to victory. If it wasn’t for these determined and enthused leaders delegating tasks, identifying causes to campaign for, and encouraging their team, these organizations would need a lot more than a Wingardium Leviosa spell to get them off the ground and zooming to success.

Do you agree with our selections, or do you think the Marauders would take different approaches to their activism? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Written by Lucy McCabe

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