Tommy Raskin

Celebrating the Life of Tommy Raskin: An Outspoken Advocate For Justice And Compassion For All

Erica MeierAnimals, Veg Eating 34 Comments

As Tommy’s parents — U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin — beautifully expressed, he led a “remarkable life.” In a word, he was “magic.”

What struck so many people upon meeting Tommy, hearing him speak or reading his essays: He radiated a magnetic energy of wisdom beyond his years and compassion rooted deeply in his soul. He was a dynamic force for good in this world, driven to expose, challenge and uproot all forms of injustice, including the suffering forced upon animals. 

“When it comes to the right to live free from the blight
of aggression, oppression, from tyrannous might, 
how smart you are friends shouldn’t matter at all;
trauma is still trauma for the creatures that crawl.” 
excerpt from Where War Begins by Tommy Raskin

Soon after Congressman Raskin inspired the idea behind — and became the first participant in — Animal Outlook’s VegWeek campaign in 2009, Tommy also began aligning his morals with his menu. He was a passionate vegan, and in 2017, Animal Outlook was honored to feature Tommy as a speaker at our DC VegFest (video below) as well as at our holiday celebration (video), leaving audiences in awe after sharing his powerful and poignant poem, Where War Begins

 

Tommy’s authenticity, wit and unflinching determination empowered those who knew him and created a ripple effect, inspiring countless others he never met. Though his extraordinary life was tragically brief — cut short by the darkness of depression — his love, laughter and light are woven into the hearts and memories of all the people and animals whose lives he touched. 

Tommy Raskin’s Legacy Lives On    

The Bloom Raskin family launched the Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund for People and Animals, a fund that will “distribute money on a semiannual basis to causes and charities championed and advanced by Tommy Raskin, such as Oxfam, Give Directly, the Helen Keller Institute, and Animal Outlook.” Donations can be made to this fund, which is operated through the Greater Washington Community Foundation. 

Additionally, the strong and supportive community in which Tommy grew up is encouraging others to consider engaging in at least one small act of compassion in Tommy’s memory. If you’re willing, please add your action to this growing list of Acts of Goodness in Honor of Tommy Raskin, and you can also  add to the comments below to help inspire others. 

Tommy will be deeply missed, and our hearts go out to the entire Bloom Raskin family and to all those who knew and loved him. 

Tommy

Tommy Raskin with his dad, U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin, speaking at Animal Outlook’s holiday party, 2017

[simple-author-box]

Comments 34

  1. I’m donating vegan cookbooks, with a small inscription in memory of Tommy Raskin, though the Little Free Library program.

  2. Pingback: Rep. Jamie Raskin On The Life And Legacy Of His Son, Tommy Raskin – .U.S.A.-News

  3. Pingback: Rep. Jamie Raskin On The Life And Legacy Of His Son, Tommy Raskin : NPR - Samachar Central

  4. I’m dedicating my #the100dayproject as a tribute to this remarkable young man. I find his death, heartbreaking, but his Life, inspiring. Tommy, from All accounts, was a bright light, and had a passion—being compassionate for people and animals. May all we do in his name, keep him and his legacy alive.

  5. Very touching. Tommy’s charisma is really special and sensitive. He probably felt intuitively how much was going wrong on earth. Covid-19, climate change, then the uneasy feeling of what else Trump could do. Even I had a lot of worry before January 6th without depression. Tommy, be happy in the Garden of Eden, in the loving arms of the Eternal, who knows all the answers. With love, Evelyne

  6. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Go Vegetarian in Honor of Late Vegan Activist Tommy Raskin – Welcome to Easy Dinner Recipes

  7. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Go Vegetarian in Honor of Late Vegan Activist Tommy Raskin - All Foods Magazine

  8. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Go Vegetarian in Honor of Late Vegan Activist Tommy Raskin - Help Animals Now!

  9. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez goes vegetarian in honor of the late vegan activist Tommy Raskin - VeggieDiscovery

  10. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Go Vegetarian in Honor of Late Vegan Activist Tommy Raskin - Ways 2 Help.websiteWays 2 Help.website

  11. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Go Vegetarian in Honor of Late Vegan Activist Tommy Raskin - Fattoushcafenashville

  12. So sad that he left us, this young man had so much more to give. He was too sensitive, the horrors of life got to him! Thinking of his family!

  13. Pingback: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Go Vegetarian in Honor of Late Vegan Activist Tommy Raskin - cupcoffeeco

  14. I had recently learned of Tommy and I was struck by the fact that I could’ve been him and he, me and what I mean by this is we share a profound love for all creatures that inhabit “our” planet and the belief that they have the same right to live and thrive as we humans do. Heck, I can’t even step on an ant if I could help it. And the other commonality is wanting to leave this earth because of the cruelty, the suffering…. The only difference is I was stopped from walking into the mighty Pacific without looking back. And I am forever grateful to God for assigning me a special role in which I have now fully accepted.

    http://www.beyondthebrokendoor

  15. Pingback: Jamie Raskin, Democracy's Defender – The New Republic – voice for democracy

  16. Pingback: Jamie Raskin, Democracy’s Defender — DigiNewsHub

  17. Pingback: Jamie Raskin, Democracy’s Defender – The New Republic – voice for democracy

  18. Pingback: Jamie Raskin i 31 innych członków Kongresu naciska na posiłki bezmięsne we wszystkich placówkach federalnych -

  19. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities - Health Reporter

  20. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities - Diabetes

  21. Pingback: Jamie Raskin e altri 31 membri del Congresso spingono per pasti senza carne in tutte le strutture federali

  22. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities – Same Day Health Solutions

  23. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 other members of Congress push for meatless meals in all federal facilities - HisWaterToys

  24. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities – OlyaBrand

  25. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities | HealthyRecipes.ExtremeFatloss

  26. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities - 40 Day Shape Up

  27. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities - Detect Diabetes

  28. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities – Supply Chain Council of European Union | Scceu.org

  29. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities - GistFeed

  30. Pingback: Jamie Raskin and 31 Other Congress Members Push for Meatless Meals at All Federal Facilities - Cup coffeeco

  31. Pingback: Jimmy Raskin and 31 different members of Congress are pushing for meatless meals in any respect federal amenities – Online Scoop

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *