This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As the first person prosecuted under Utah's "ag-gag" statute, I was pleased to see that charges were dismissed against another person facing jail for violating this draconian law. Utah's ag-gag law criminalizes the simple act of taking photographic and video documentation of animal abuse on factory farms.
It is ironic that the charge was thrown out because of concerns that video evidence was withheld from the defendant. As this plainly demonstrates, society recognizes the importance of video documentation. Video evidence has a unique power to cut through bias and inaccurate hearsay because it simply shows what transpired, allowing the viewer to reach his or her own conclusions.
No one would deny that video of police shootings have been enormously influential on the national discussion surrounding that issue. So why is it that when it comes to animal abuse we have chosen to bury our collective heads in the sand? Is it because on some level we know that we'll be disturbed by what these videos will show and that might make us rethink our dietary habits?
Amy Meyer
Director, Utah Animal Rights Coalition Salt Lake City