Journalist and author Will Potter has been doing a great deal to highlight the growing web of laws and actions of the authorities that seek to clamp down on the freedom to protest. In the latest case he has highlighted, an undercover investigator for the animal protection NGO, Compassion Over Killing, is being charged with animal cruelty for filming the abuse of newborn calves in Colorado.
His story, also ran in Salon magazine and gaining traction on the Internet, highlights the case of Taylor Radig who worked at Quanah Cattle Co. in Kersey, Colorado, and covertly filmed calves, some so young they still had umbilical cords attached, being kicked, thrown, and slammed onto trucks. Video footage, see below, was released by the group on November 13th, and on November 15th criminal charges were filed against three men shown abusing the animals.
The Sherriff’s department announced additional charges were filed against the young woman who filmed the abuse and turned over the footage to the police. (Will Potter’s italics)
As the police pointed out in a statement: “Radig’s failure to report the alleged abuse of the animals in a timely manner adheres to the definition of acting with negligence and substantiates the charge Animal Cruelty.” Radig is also accused of participating in the abuse.
Compassion Over Killing claims the prosecution is retaliatory.
As Potter says, the prosecution of a whistleblower who exposed animal cruelty in this way is unprecedented. But as he points out, the agriculture and food processing industry has been pushing hard for the so-called “ag-gag” laws that make it illegal to take photos or video of animal abuse on factory farms.
Factory farms fear the growing movement against the factory farm process that typically abuses animals in the production of everything from eggs, to steaks and hamburgers. It is an industry that prefers to hide in the shadows, as the reality will put off consumers who typically give little thought to where their food comes from.
Potter says the latest versions of these bills require investigators to turn over video footage to law enforcement immediately, and some of them would prohibit investigators from speaking with the press. These so-called “mandatory reporting” requirements, which are strikingly similar to what is at issue in the Radig case, are intended to stop national animal welfare groups from documenting patterns of abuse. As he says, such legislation was introduced in New Hampshire, Nebraska, Wyoming, Tennessee, California, and North Carolina this year — and failed in every state.
Colorado is not an “ag-gag” state, but this is clearly part of that trend, and could indicate ag-gag legislation about to be introduced in Colorado, Potter says.
Compassion Over Killing writes:
On Nov. 20, 2013, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office retaliated against the courageous whistleblower who uncovered and reported the callous abuse of newborn calves – they’re alleging that she broke the law. What is her alleged “crime”? Witnessing and reporting animal abuse – in other words, she’s being punished for telling the truth about the cruelty that happened at Quanah.
Check out the Compassion Over Killing website.
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This video may be inappropriate for some users.
COK Investigation Reveals Shocking Abuse to Calves
(Follow Will Potter at Green is the New Red.)
