Animal Rights Activist Profile: Olivia Mihalcik-Duvall

What inspired you to first get involved with activism and to join DxE?

When I decided to get involved with DxE, I was at a circus protest in my hometown and the individual who put the protest together was a part of DxE and talked to me about it and that's when I decided to do activism with her. She has been a big part of me getting into DxE and becoming very involved in it. She asked me if I wanted to be a co-organiser with her and when she moved out of the state I became the main organizer of the Harrisburg chapter.

What is your favorite or most accomplished moment in activism or other DxE activity?

I would say my most accomplished moment in activism was when I was a part of the group that disrupted the Nathan's hotdog eating contest. It went pretty much according to our plan and got a lot of media attention.

Are you a part of any unique activism or working groups in your chapter and how do they influence your activism?

I go to as many meetups that I can involving a lot of activism around PA. I am a part of the Harrisburg black lives matter group, the Harrisburg lgbtq group, and I help the food not bombs in Harrisburg PA. They all influenced my activism in many different ways, they help me learn about people and their opinions about things and they help strengthen my non-human activism by doing human activism.

How do you stay motivated as an activist?

I love doing activism and just thinking about all the suffering going on in the world, it really keeps me motivated to keep going so I can make this world, a world where everyone is free.

What advice would you give to new activists?

My advice is to do what you can and always think about what you are fighting for. Think about what you would want someone to be doing if you were in their shoes and do just that.

Why Animal Liberation?

Because the animals deserve it. And we are the ones that should give it to them because we have been the ones taking it away.

Want to get involved? DxE is a grassroots network focused on empowering you to be the best activist you can be. Here are some steps you can take. 

1. Sign up to our mailing list and share our content on social media. 
2. Join a local DxE community (or, better yet, come visit us in Berkeley).
3. Take the Liberation Pledge. And join us in building a true social movement for animals.