The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP): Pushing Animal Extremism Through the Courts and Beyond

A version of this article was previously published. Most of the information provided still holds true today. Western Justice is sharing to help reveal the manner in which extremist groups operate, their ties to and cooperation with other extremist groups, and the continued threat they pose to our lifestyles and livelihoods.

Mission and Goals

According to its own website, the mission of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) is to “secure legally recognized fundamental rights for nonhuman animals through litigation, legislation, and education.”

At its core, NhRP seeks to change the legal status of animals by granting them “personhood,” effectively affording them the same legal rights as human beings. They pursue this through lawsuits, grassroots organizing, and public policy campaigns. NhRP claims to promote the recognition of animals as beings with “inherent interests in freedom from captivity, participation in a community of their species, and the protection of their habitats.”

In short, NhRP wants animals to have the same legal rights as people.

The Courtroom Strategy

NhRP originally focused its efforts on the courts, banking on the power of legal precedent. Founder Steven Wise, a lawyer and long-time animal extremist ideologue, has dedicated his career to pushing this agenda. By carefully selecting “clients” (animals) and sympathetic jurisdictions, NhRP has sought to chip away at traditional legal distinctions between humans and animals.

Their strategy relies on refining arguments over time, drawing on legal feedback, and slowly expanding their reach with each new filing.

Expanding the Agenda Beyond the Courts

While NhRP is best known for litigation, its activities now extend far beyond the courtroom. In a 2017 interview with Matthew Dominguez (former HSUS employee and current NhRP Director of Public Affairs), he revealed that the group is laying the groundwork for a broad grassroots movement to advance its rights-based agenda.

According to Dominguez, NhRP is:

- Drafting city- and state-level legislation.

- Building coalitions and carefully researching “promising” jurisdictions.

- Training a grassroots “army” of activists.

- Implementing advocacy software to grow campaigns.

Even before launching legislation, NhRP worked behind the scenes to ensure initiatives had the highest chance of passing. Their grassroots campaign reportedly grew by 50% in just six months, with plans for continued expansion.

Leadership and Ideological Roots

Like many animal extremist organizations, some of NhRP’s past and present leadership reveals much about its direction and culture:

- Steven M. Wise, President – Lawyer and animal rights ideologue inspired by Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation. Past President of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and contributor to HSUS publications. Taught “animal law” at institutions including Harvard, Vermont Law, and St. Thomas University.

- Matthew Dominguez, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations – Former HSUS Director of Public Policy and leader in HSUS’s Farm Animal Protection Campaign.

- Kevin Schneider, Executive Director – Specializes in environmental and land use law; outspoken advocate for plant-based diets and food system reform.

- Courtney Fern, Director of Government Relations and Campaigns – Former California State Director for HSUS; past staffer for Last Chance for Animals, EPA, and NRDC.

- Erika Mathews, Development Director – Over 20 years of experience in the animal rights industry, including with Farm Sanctuary, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and ASPCA. Active in anti-carriage horse campaigns in New York City.

Conclusion

The Nonhuman Rights Project is more than a fringe legal experiment—it is a coordinated effort to blur the line between people and animals, backed by seasoned activists with roots in major animal rights and environmental organizations.

By combining litigation with grassroots activism and legislative campaigns, NhRP represents a broader trend of animal extremist groups seeking to reshape law, food systems, and culture to align with their ideology.

For a deeper look at NhRP’s agenda, see this interview with Matthew Dominguez.