Success: Undercover Activists Encouraged to Expose Animal Abuse

Target: Honorable Stephanie M. Rose, Chief District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa

Iowa’s ag-gag legislation seeks to criminalize investigations at factory farms, slaughter plants, puppy mills, and other abusive institutions in favor of larger, corporate interests. The state’s most recent ag-gag law made trespassing to take video or audio recordings illegal, thereby thwarting undercover investigators’ attempts at exposing animal cruelty, unsafe worker conditions, and food safety violations in aforementioned facilities.

In this previous ForceChange petition, people called for the elimination of ag-gag legislation in the six states where these laws still remain in effect. Thankfully, judiciary powers seem to agree. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa ruled that Iowa’s most recent ag-gag law was unconstitutional, as it violates the First Amendment in trying to silence activists and protesters. Without these investigations, we would still be unaware of important social issues that impact our own lives, and we must not underestimate the significance of these expositions.

Sign this petition to thank the Southern District of Iowa for deeming ag-gag legislation as unconstitutional, and supporting the voices that speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Honorable Stephanie M. Rose,

We at the ForceChange community would like to thank you for preventing unconstitutional ag-gag legislation from being passed in Iowa. This is the third time Iowa has tried to silence activists and protestors, and we are sure it won’t be the last. Without the insight of undercover investigations, we would still be grossly unaware of issues impacting our own health and wellbeing, as well as that of others exploited by large industries. Thank you for prioritizing the welfare of animals, workers, and consumers over the greed of corporate industries. And may you continue to strike down any further legislative stunts that attempt to strip activists of their power.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Otwarte Klatki