The case for a 200-mile public witness.

The Why

The March to Abolish Animal Testing (MAAT) will take people on a 200-mile trek from the State Capitol in New York to the epicenter of dog experiments: Marshall BioResources, a fortress where nearly 20,000 beagles are trapped and awaiting abuse in cages.

Echoing marches through history, from the Salt March to Selma, whose toll and toil inspired people across the world, our aim is to have 1,000 people join us as we push for the dogs to be freed.

MAAT tells a story of power and exploitation, and of a broad cultural shift around that exploitation. Beginning in Albany is symbolic because Albany is the seat of power of the State of New York. It is where the governor sits. It is where the legislators can make the changes necessary to shut down a place like Marshall BioResources, where so many dogs and other animals languish, and make sure no one can do what it does again.

Ending at Marshall is powerful because MBR is such a potent symbol of animal abuse in the world of breeding and testing.

Marshall symbolizes an industry that cages and abuses animals for their entire lifetimes, despite the fact that the data collected through this exploitation are overwhelmingly ineffectual. Indeed, we wonder how many human lives could have been saved had we pivoted sooner to the far more effective, efficient, modern non-animal testing methods that now exist; instead, we see our government and private sector continue to inflict deep harm on sentient beings seemingly over an unwillingness to change. We are ready for change, and we are marching for it.

The 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery was 54 miles and took four days. It is etched into the minds of Americans for many reasons, one of which is the physical and emotional burden something like that entails. MAAT is four times longer, so it will be grueling and intense but also worth it for the message our willingness sends. And the kind of attention and respect that willingness can garner is uniquely powerful.

The 2026 Monks' Walk for Peace was a much longer trek, but its goals were, while deeply valuable, abstract. Ours are focused and, while ambitious, winnable. But the monks are an excellent exemplar because it showed us the benefits of a multi-day action: awareness can bloom and bloom over the course of it, along with growing local and national and international media, community discussion, and responses along the way from marchers and witnesses to the march. People who might never have considered an issue are given the opportunity to engage with it.

We understand that 200 miles is a tremendous commitment; that is the point. It is an act of solidarity with animals who have endured far more. The beauty of this action is that everyone can slot in exactly how they wish to. There will be people who just come to the Albany or Marshall action, or both. There will be people who walk for 1 or 4 days. There will be people who go the whole route but just walk the first 4 miles of each day. And there will be people who wake up each day and walk 15 miles day after day.

Those of us with companion animals--we certainly welcome them, and would love to see rescued lab dogs marching!--will be making calculations based on an understanding of their particular companions. But all of us will be contributing to the vision, and all of us will fall into bed thinking of the animals we are putting ourselves on the line to save.

— Gretchen & Ella, Campaign Co-Directors

What is MAAT?

MAAT is a bold national campaign designed to accelerate the abolition of animal experimentation through mass public awareness, political pressure, coalition-building, media visibility, and large-scale nonviolent action.

• A multi-day march starting with a rally in Albany, walking across New York State, and ending with a peaceful action at Marshall BioResources.
• A culminating Marshall event where participants can stand together without needing to walk the full route.
• Daily press moments, public education, and community events along the route.
• Storytelling from survivors, rescuers, scientists, students, and former lab workers.
• Legislative and corporate pressure to move science beyond animal suffering.

Core Campaign Goals

1. End federal funding for animal experimentation. Advocate for reduced taxpayer funding of animal experiments and major investment in modern, human-relevant methods.
2. Ban the use of dogs in experimentation. Start with a focused, winnable species campaign that can build the foundation for wider protections.
3. Increase transparency and accountability. Push for disclosure, independent oversight, whistleblower protections, and stricter enforcement.
4. Shut down major breeding facilities. Sustain pressure on facilities such as Marshall BioResources and the larger commercial pipeline.

The Difference

This campaign leads with modernization as well as compassion. It is pro-science, pro-transparency, anti-cruelty, and future-focused.

The message is not that science must give something up. The message is that better science is already possible, and public policy should catch up.

Coalition Building

No single organization can move a campaign of this scale alone. MAAT is built for activists, animal protection organizations, scientists, healthcare professionals, students, faith leaders, rescue groups, artists, lawmakers, and everyday people.

Together, we can build a future where science advances without suffering.