Early Life and Education

• Born on December 18, 1944, in New York City to a family of Puerto Rican descent.
• Graduated from Boston University with a degree in international studies.

Academic and Career Background

After graduating, Kennedy attended Stanford University, where he became involved in environmental activism.

• Received the Environmental Education for All Award from the World Wildlife Fund.
• Published an article titled "Animal Liberation" in The Progressive in 1967.

Criminalization and Later Life

In 1970, Kennedy was arrested for distributing marijuana in a parking lot at a music festival.

• Indicted on charges of drug possession, but the case was later dropped due to lack of evidence.
• In 1991, he sued the U.S. government for violating his civil rights during a protest in San Francisco.

Current Advocacy

• Has been a vocal advocate against animal testing and has worked with various organizations, including the Animal Welfare Institute.
• In 2016, he founded the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which focuses on addressing environmental threats from human activities.