In Memoriam of Virgil Butler

Virgil Butler, a former Tyson slaughterhouse worker turned animal advocate, died outside of his home in Arkansas on Friday, Dec. 15, 2006.

After spending five years working on the killing floor of a Tyson chicken slaughterhouse, Virgil quit his job, became a vegetarian, and dedicated the rest of life to speaking out about the horrors forced upon animals raised and killed for food. Virgil, along with his partner Laura Alexander, passionately spoke out about his work inside Tyson in an effort to expose the painful truth, and he inspired countless individuals to choose a more compassionate way of life.

In 2004, COK met with Virgil at his home in Arkansas and recorded the video shown here (the video also includes footage inside the slaughterhouse where Virgil worked). During the interview, Virgil recounts the routine and egregious cruelty to birds he witnessed while at Tyson, and why he changed his life.

Virgil's courage and compassion touched the lives of thousands, and his desire to create a kinder tomorrow serves as an inspiration to us all.

Category:

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• Virgil
• Butler
• Tyson
• chicken
• slaughter
• vegetarian
• vegan
• broiler
• hens
• farm
• factory
• cruelty
• animal
• abuse

[ilysheridan3]

he was my stepdad..

and he died because he just came back from the doctor, and he had to take medicine for high blood pressure and the doctor gave him the wrong dose and he had a heart attack and died..

[sapphiresanchez]

incredible! what an excellent message this is, thank you. RIP

[voxvegan]

What an admirable man. It takes true courage and humility to admit one's wrong actions and then work to try to put an end to the wrong. Killing animals for food is totally unnecessary and we need more people of conscience like Virgil Butler. I hope he is happy now, wherever he is. Thank you Virgil.

[Gingagirl]

Why did he die? :(

[twoshoesdc]

He was a true hero with the courage of his convictions. Please spread the word -- the reason so many people eat meat is that they can comfotably ignore the cruelty that occurs out of sight. What if people saw this on the evening news or as a trailer in the movie theater?

[habibpc]

try your best mate...

[myster1234]

How did he die? One story says he was found dead outside, another says dead outside in his car, and another site says "passed away in his sleep". on his blog, it says he passed away and to just leave it at that. ???? regardless, just heard about this figure, and his activism; didnt know him, but as John Donne said, the death of any man diminishes me.

[John7E7Memphis]

Thank-you virgil for having the guts to come foward, you are a brave man. I will put this on my animal cruelty site gaurdianz.tripod com

[cbheld]

What a brave man! The true definition of a man- one who steps forward when he knows something is wrong, even if it means his livelihood is at stake. May he rest in peace, this hero.