California grows more bizarre by the day. Here is the latest example. The City Council in Ojai, located about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles, voted 4-1 on Tuesday to grant legal rights to elephants.
In a press release issued Wednesday, the Nonhuman Rights Project, which worked with city leaders to push the new law, proudly proclaimed that Ojai is the “first city in the US to recognize the legal right of a nonhuman animal.”
The Washington Times reported that the local law grants elephants in Ojai “freedom from forced confinement, extraneous control, or restricted choice imposed by any person.”
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The regulation also declared that rights granted to elephants “entail the ability to act autonomously without restraint, coercion, or control by any person.”
In its press release, the Nonhuman Rights Project explained that in the early 1980s, an elephant named Tarra was held in captivity in Ojai Valley and used for entertainment, including a show where she was forced to rollerskate.
In 1995, Tarra became the first resident of what is now the largest elephant sanctuary in the U.S., the group added.
A Sept. 19 report by the city provided the genesis of the elephant-rights movement in Ojai.
“The issue of Elephant Bodily Rights has been raised in recent years by a number of advocacy and animal civil rights groups,” the report says. “The issue remains in litigation in multiple courts.”
“According to the Nonhuman Rights Project, the effort to recognize Elephant Bodily Rights stems from the findings of animal researchers who have found elephants to be similarly situated to humans, as they have long-term memories, learning abilities, empathy and self-awareness,” it adds.
Ojai City Councilwoman Leslie Rule, who championed the measure, said of the legislation, “It isn’t a joke. We can do some real good here, as well as being on the right side of history. Let’s encourage society to evolve its basic understanding of its relationship to all nonhuman entities.”
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In its statement, the Nonhuman Rights Project added, “Under this ordinance, which passed by a vote of 4-1, it is now illegal in Ojai to subject an elephant to the lack of freedom Tarra endured.”
“In the years to come, we expect this will be the first of many such laws: introduced by elected officials who understand that a sustainable and just future for all life on earth means extending compassion to and establishing legal rights for nonhuman animals. In legislatures, in courtrooms, and beyond, that’s what this movement is about.”
Publisher’s Note: A passionate reader sent along a criticism of the author’s column, and I felt it was important to include it in the column itself as opposed to just adding it as a comment. While this column includes the author, Liam’s views, and his snarky humor, the Tampa Free Press knows the seriousness of animal abuse, animal testing, and, in some cases, a complete lack of humanity regarding animals exist today.
Sue, from Ventura, California, roughly 15 miles south of Ojai, said, “It appears that torturing animals is just fine with Mr. Edgar, or maybe he just hasn’t done his homework.
If giving these poor animals (who have endured non-stop brutality at the hands of the species who is supposed to know better) “rights” is what it takes to put the brakes on the depraved cruelty of Homo StuItus, then I am aII for it, and so is everyone else I know. Why? Because we are decent human beings.”
Sue included this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ulw7RtZoao
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