VegWeek 2011: Federal, State, and Local Officials Take 7-Day Veg Pledge

For the third year in a row, Compassion Over Killing hosted VegWeek in April, a week-long celebration encouraging others to take 7-day veg pledge as a simple, yet effective way, to help protect their health, the planet and animals.

Launched in 2009 in our hometown of Takoma Park, MD, our  first-ever VegWeek was inspired by Md. Senator Jamie Raskin and officially recognized through a Mayoral Proclamation. Sen. Raskin was the first person to sign up for our one-week veg pledge—and it’s a pledge he’s kept to this day!

In 2010, we expanded the campaign to include the entire state of Maryland and brought the campaign to the West Coast by hosting Los Angeles VegWeek. Thanks to all the tremendous feedback, in 2011 we expanded the campaign yet again, hosting California, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC VegWeeks. And the response was amazing!

Several localities issued VegWeek proclamations and resolutions, dozens of restaurants participated by offering weel-long specials, and over a dozen elected officials, including Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Md. Delegate Tom Hucker, and Va. Delegate Patrick Hope pledged to go meat-free for the week with hundreds of people across the country joining them:

“I am very pleased with this event and the awareness it created for my friends and family. My participation became a topic of
discussion at just about every meal and I encouraged colleagues to join. The emails and starter packet made it very easy to stay motivated.”-VegWeek 2011 participant

Read more about our 2011 campaign at USVegWeek.com. Interested in hosting a VegWeek celebration in your city or state, contact us to get started!