Spotlight: David Magina
From slaughterhouse inspector to animal rights activist, our activist spotlight is on David Magina.
After immigrating to Canada from Portugal, David’s grandparents were given jobs in a slaughterhouse that progressed to government positions in animal agriculture. Following the footsteps of his grandparents, and then mother, and uncle, David became a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspector who, for over 15 years, inspected slaughterhouses and processing facilities.
Several years ago, with encouragement from his ex-partner, David tried a vegetarian diet. He was surprised to find that - not only did he survive from not eating animals - he thrived. After researching further, David cut out all dairy and eggs from his diet and became vegan, and then an animal rights activist.
Unsure of how other animal rights activists would react to his past, he took a chance and summed up the courage to attend his first Toronto Cow Save vigil. To his surprise, he was supported and embraced by the activists and then made the commitment to be an animal rights activist for life.
David at a Toronto Cow Save vigil for the cows.
“I understand the hesitancy to bear witness. It’s not easy, and can be overwhelming. How can we live in such an unjust society. But there are many reasons why I think it’s important. First and most importantly it’s giving a few beings perhaps the only voice they’ll ever share with the world.
They are all, each and every single one of them, individuals. To say goodbye and share this final moment with them is an honour.
Bearing witness has led to the burning fuel that’s inspired me and so many across the world to take part in advocating.
In that moment you change and the need to stand up and fight for their freedom grows inside of you. There’s no more noble of a cause and if it’s just for a few moments it’s worth it.”
~ David Magina
David is now an on-the-ground activist who has attended and organized hundreds of events. He engages in many different styles of activism ranging from street outreach, interviews and podcasts, farm investigations, rescue, and a social media influencer on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
He is also currently an organizer for a group called We The Free in Waterloo, Ontario and helps to run an antivivisection campaign including one directed to Kingfisher Labs International near Toronto.
He has helped organize demonstrations against African Lion Safari, Springbrook fur farm, Marineland, the use of horses for transportation, as well as assisted in banner drops and spearheaded a campaign to get Home Depot to stop selling glue traps. He is currently working on local campaigns including the Waterloo Zoo and the Plant Based Treaty.
David is interviewed at the Toronto Animal Rights March 2022 | Video: Michael McDowell
David often travels to other cities to help other activists with street outreach, vigils at slaughterhouses, protest roadside zoos and fur sellers, and to support Plant Based Treaty outreach and Vegfests.
From slaughterhouse inspector to animal rights activist, David is committed to animal advocacy for life, and he “praises many wonderful activists before him as a key to his success.”