The First Ag-Gag Prosecution

Amy Meyers, a woman from Utah, used her cellphone to take videos of cows being slaughtered at a meatpacking company in Draper City, Utah. Meyers was changed with agricultural operation interference.

The recording of agricultural operations while trespassing or under a false pretence is against the law under the new “ag-gag” law. Meyers is the first person prosecuted under the new “ag-gag” law. 

Meyers claims she was standing on public property while video taping the cows, therefore she would not be in violation of the “ag-gag” law because she did not step foot into the meatpacking company. 

After video evidence showing Meyers standing from public property was given to the prosecutors, the case was dismissed.

Meyers case only gained media attention after Will Potter blogged about her case and posted about her story on Reddit. 

Meyers is an animal rights activist and even though her case was dismissed, there might be a chilling effect as a result of her prosecution. Even though Meyers was on public property she was still taken to court, other activists might not be willing to risk their freedom to take a video of slaughterhouse conditions. 

The conditions in slaughterhouses are already intolerable, and those owning slaughterhouses knew there could be a possibility their actions could be recorded. The “ag-gag” law gives slaughterhouse owners too much power. How will be know the conditions of slaughterhouses if we are not able to record the practises? How will corruption in the meatpacking industry be revealed? 

There is great public interest about the conditions of slaughterhouses. Journalists and activists are not being given freedom of speech. First Amendment rights are being jeopardised and journalists are not able to properly report on injustices in the meatpacking industry. This law is helping to protect the meatpacking industry. 

This law might encourage other industries to demand special protections from their practises being exposed to the public. This case is important for the future of journalists and activists. How are journalists going to report on news if they are afraid of being prosecuted? Journalists are supposed to be “watch dogs” and this law disables journalists from being able to properly carry out their job. 

Hopefully, journalists and activists will be able to find new ways of obtaining their information that will not cause them legal problems. 

1. http://myveganjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ag_gag_poster.png

2. http://www.opednews.com/articles/First-Ag-Gag-Prosecution-by-jana-claire-130429-452.html