Dear John,
Three years ago today, two judges on New York’s highest court issued historic dissenting opinions in support of elephants’ right to liberty. The focus of their dissents was our client Happy, an Asian elephant held alone in captivity in the Bronx Zoo.
While the majority of the judges on the New York Court of Appeals ruled against Happy—holding that the writ of habeas corpus, which safeguards the right to liberty, doesn’t apply to nonhuman animals—Judge Rowan Wilson (now the Chief Judge) and Judge Jenny Rivera chose not to remain silent in the face of the intolerable wrong of Happy’s imprisonment. Not extending the right to liberty protected by habeas corpus to an animal simply because it hasn’t been done before “is an argument against all progress, one that flies in the face of legal history,” Judge Wilson wrote.
This anniversary is an important opportunity to reiterate and raise awareness of these acts of judicial courage and how elephants Happy and Patty continue to suffer in the Bronx Zoo. Visit the NhRP blog to read and share “Five Highlights of the Happy the Elephant Dissents”: |
These dissents have helped plant the roots of legal change for nonhuman animals. But because the five other judges adhered to the unjust legal status quo, Happy remains in captivity. That’s why we helped develop and are working to pass the first elephant captivity ban in the US in New York City–a bill that would require the Bronx Zoo to release Happy and Patty to an elephant sanctuary. We’ll have further updates soon, including a comprehensive recap of where things stand and how you can help.
Thank you for joining us in the crucial work of deepening respect for freedom and justice,
The NhRP |
