Morgan council supports mink ranchers, defines picketing rules

MORGAN — County officials are tightening picketing rules and expressing support of county ranchers in preparation for a scheduled mink farm protest in November.

“The basic premise is, someone may be allowed free speech rights and may be able to protest you or what you’re about or what you’re doing, but they shouldn’t be able to do that right in front of your house,” Morgan County Attorney Jann Farris said.

“Your right to enjoy your house and your property outweighs their rights to free speech. Your home is your castle, and you shouldn’t have to put up with it at your residence.”

Using wording patterned after a similar ordinance used in Salt Lake City, Farris drafted an ordinance that prohibits targeted picketing at a residence. Because many mink farmers live on their farms, the ordinance would affect a protest by the Salt Lake Animal Advocacy Movement scheduled for Nov. 28.

“They can go to a public park, or somewhere down the road if they are going to protest,” Farris said. “You shouldn’t have to sit in your living room and sit and watch people who don’t like you or agree with you walk up and down in front of your house.”

At the insistence of Morgan County council members, the draft was changed to prohibit picketing closer than 1,000 feet from the property line of the proposed target, instead of 100 feet. The change more adequately mirrored the rural nature of Morgan County, council members said.

However, if a residence is not on the same property as the mink farm, picketers could use the public right of way for their activities.

Failure to comply with the ordinance would result in a class B misdemeanor, punishable by six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The ordinance was written to protect “the public health, welfare and good order of the community,” according to the draft. Residents should “enjoy a feeling of well-being, tranquility, privacy and enjoy freedom from being a captive audience to unwanted speech in their home. The practice of targeted picketing causes emotional disturbance and distress that has the potential to incite breaches of the peace.”

“Sometimes these protest groups come in and try to stir up problems. If we can get them out of people’s front yards, it could help law enforcement,” Farris said. “Confrontation won’t be there if we send them down the road.”

In addition, picketers may be required to obtain a mass-gathering permit from county officials before staging a protest. The permit would allow law enforcement agencies to prepare for an influx of people on narrow county roads.

Local mink ranchers took passage of the ordinance as a sign of support, often applauding during the council’s discussion on the issue.

“We don’t have near enough hard-working people in this country. (Morgan mink farmers) are very good at what they do. They stay within the law and take abuse that is unfair,” Councilman Rodney Haslam said. “Whatever we can do to protect them, we need to do it.”

“This is for the purpose of helping the farmers as a whole. I can be sympathetic to your cause. You are an asset to the county and we want to pass an ordinance to help protect you,” Council Chairman Sid Creager said.

“I know the hardship (protests) create. In a matter of 10 to 15 minutes, an entire career gets turned upside down. That’s the last thing we want to have happen.”

Morgan City will likely pass its own targeted picketing ordinance in the near future, Farris said.