Joaquin Phoenix Defends Threatened Animal Rescuer
The star has spoke out in support of this woman’s compassion
Award-winning actor, Joaquin Phoenix, has spoken out in support of a New York animal rescuer who’s compassionate actions mean she may face up to seven years in jail.
What Happened?
Apparently, Tracy Murphy, of the Asha’s Farm Sanctuary in New York’s Niagara County, took in two lost cows which had escaped from a nearby beef farmer and wandered onto her land.
Not knowing where the cows had come from, she gave them a home, fed them and cared for them, showing them the kindness you would expect from a woman who’s dedicated her life to helping animals.
When farmer Scott Gregson of McKee Farms discovered what had happened, he demanded the cows back for slaughter. From his point of view, the cows were nothing more than commodities and their loss was to cost him money. Tracy offered to buy the cows from him outright, in order that they could live out the rest of lives in peace and safety, but Gregson dug in his heels and demanded their return.
By this time, Tracy had become attached to the gentle, affectionate animals. The thought of handing them over to be butchered must have been like a fist in her gut and she desperately sought for a way to save the cows’ lives.
What’s The Legal Stance?
Her solicitor claims that under established Lien Law, Tracy was legally entitled to keep the cows until the farmer had reimbursed her for their food and lodgings, which he refused to do. Instead, Gregson went to the police and accused Tracy of theft.
On July 25th of this year, New York State troopers stormed Tracy’s animal sanctuary and forcibly removed the two cows, returning them to the farmer and to their impending grisly fate. Siding with McKee farms, they arrested Tracy and charged her with grand larceny.
After spending some time in Niagara County Jail, Tracy appeared before the court and pleaded not guilty to the charge. She was released pending trial, but if found guilty faces up to seven years in prison, simply for trying to give two beautiful creatures a safe and loving home.
Death Threats
Many of the local residents of the small farming town where Scott Gregson has his meat business have come out in the farmer’s support, with placards and roadside banners reading “Release the beef” and “Don’t mess with farmers.”
Even more worrying, Tracy has received death threats from pro-farming protesters and anonymous threats on Twitter, including a threat to hang her.
Enter Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix is well-known for his views on animal rights. Vegan since the age of three, the award-winning actor, star of Joker, Walk the Line and Gladiator famously used his Oscars acceptance speech, when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, to speak out for animal rights (see below).
The day after giving this speech, he helped rescue a mother cow and her newborn calf from a Los Angeles slaughterhouse to live out the rest of their lives at a farm animal sanctuary.
When Joaquin found out about Tracy’s plight and the plight of the two cows she had risked her freedom (and life) for, he expressed his astonishment that she would receive such a harsh punishment for “simply showing kindness to two individuals who had wandered onto her property.”
“There was an opportunity here to show compassion and mercy,” said Joaquin. “To allow these peaceful creatures to remain without fear or anticipation of harm for the rest of their lives. What this merciful opportunity was met with was such a shame. I applaud Tracy for standing her ground in the name of animal liberation.”
We also applaud her, and wish her every success with her trial. This may not have been a victory for the two poor cows involved, but it still has the chance to be a victory for compassion, a victory for courage and a victory for justice.