Watch: Doc Follows Six Activists Facing Felonies for Exposing Animal Cruelty at Utah Factory Farms

A new documentary from The Intercept follows six animal rights activists charged with multiple felonies for rescuing sickly livestock from factory farms in Utah. (Photo: The Intercept/YouTube)

Watch: Doc Follows Six Activists Facing Felonies for Exposing Animal Cruelty at Utah Factory Farms

The cases have cast a spotlight on the state's Big Ag-friendly laws

A documentary published Sunday by The Intercept follows the story of six animal rights activists with the group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) who are facing felony charges--which could result in decades behind bars--for rescuing sickly animals from two factory farms in Utah.

Those arrested rescued turkeys from a Norbest-owned farm and pigs from Smithfield Farms, a Chinese-owned corporation. The cases have cast a spotlight on the state's Big Ag-friendly laws.

"I've received six felony charges now--six felonies for taking animals to the vet--and that's, that's a horrible feeling," said Paul Picklesimer of DxE. "We know that the reason that we're being prosecuted is not really for rescuing sick animals--the reason is because we exposed animal cruelty and that shows the power of a legal system and what it can do to repress justice movements in general."

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