Back in 2006 I sat in on a lecture at Hunter College in NYC, while taking a very intense Feature Writing class.

A pretty aggressive guy came to talk to our class about animal rights and showed us videos of slaughter houses (and for all you hip-hop heads, I’m not referring to Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden - I’m talking about real animals who are killed for food, clothes and other human desires).

It was surreal and devastating to watch.

After the film, he gave all of the students a challenge: walk away from eating meat and wearing goods that are produced by innocent animals. Of course I’m a huge fan of food and leather products, yet I decided to challenge myself.

I stepped away from the animal products, went alternative and stepped away from the fur, because I was never close to it. ::Laughs:: My pockets were too slim.

I was a vegan for a little under 48 hours. I ate soy foods from a great restaurant in Harlem and had zero intake of animal products. I couldn’t take it and I became sick. It was one of the hardest challenges in my life – but I challenged myself.

Anyway, Eva Mendes is stepping out to support PETA‘s anti-fur campaign and encouraging young people to “question everything.” Just as I did, she wants you to open your mind and challenge yourself.

Mendes even participated in the “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign which supports the notion of stepping away from wearing fur. Both PETA and Mendes have a strong message and a firm hold on their ideas. What do you think? Are you anti-fur, anti-leather or anti-meat?

Do you think animals should have the same rights as human beings? Let us know.

If you haven’t seen Mendes’ recent contributions to PETA, watch it here:

Now watch PETA’s video toward the fashion industry and it’s partakers:

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