Getting into the ring over cockfighting
TEXT OF STORY
MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: The Humane Society sued Amazon yesterday for promoting animal fighting. At issue: Amazon’s sale of two videos depicting dog fights, and two magazines about cockfighting. Amazon’s taken down links to the dog fighting videos but the magazines are still on sale. Ashley Milne-Tyte has more.
ASHLEY MILNE-TYTE: Amazon says it has no intention of dropping the cockfighting titles, claiming freedom of speech is at stake.
Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society disagrees. He says if the two titles just praised cockfighting, the Society wouldn’t have a case. But if people look inside the magazines . . .
WAYNE PACELLE: They will see specific illegal activities promoted. Illegal under federal and state law.
New Mexico and Louisiana are the only states that allow cockfighting.
Amazon spokesperson Patty Smith says the law recognizes the difference between engaging in illegal activity and writing about it.
PATTY SMITH: And as such, it clearly protects Amazon’s right as a bookseller to make these magazines and other controversial works available to the public. Y’know, no matter how we may disagree with their ideas.
She says the public doesn’t want a retailer picking out what it should read.
I’m Ashley Milne-Tyte for Marketplace.
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