Thousands of People Protest Idaho Ag-Gag Bill

Two days ago, the Idaho House of Representatives, pressured by the industrial agriculture industry, passed an ag-gag bill that will criminalize undercover factory farm investigations. Activists are protesting the bill in unprecedented numbers by speaking out to Governor CL “Butch” Otter. Animal-welfare organization Mercy for Animals has garnered 110,000 signatures from constituents and out-of-state US citizens, urging the politician to veto the legislation. “This shameful ag-gag bill sends a clear message: Idaho factory farms have a lot of cruel and abusive practices they want to hide from the public,” says MFA executive director Nathan Runkle. Undercover investigations are the most effective way of prosecuting criminals and implementing change in the farming industry, they’ve been used to indict animal abusers and institute massive food recalls in the past.