Receiving the Social Activist Award Tuesday from the Center of Peace and Conflict Studies assured a Ball State professor and his wife that they're not alone.
Dr. Abel Alves, associate history professor, and his wife Carol Blakney received $1 fines Feb. 24 for trespassing on Seldom Rest Farm in 2002. The couple had pulled their car over two years ago to take pictures of Kaye Whitehead's pigs. They said the animals were improperly caged and covered in their own manure.
Runoff from the farm threatened to contaminate the food and water supply, Blakney said.
Blakney said the activist award symbolizes community support for their fight to ensure safe food production and participation in local government.
"To get that phone call, saying we were selected for an award, really meant a lot to us," Blakney said. "It came at a time when we were still very shook up."
Blakney said she didn't realize that her complaint to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management meant a year-long legal battle with the Indiana Farm Bureau and Delaware County Prosecutor's Office.
"It was very frightening to find out that we were taking on the farm bureau and prosecutor's office," Blakney said. "It was hard to believe that we received this much response from the justice system for stopping on a public road."
Alves said by photographing the animals and their improved condition after the complaint, he acted as a concerned citizen.
"I think every citizen can and should do that in a democracy," Alves said. "If we support discussion and activism, then we support the democracy itself."
Dr. George Wolfe, director of the BSU Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, said he developed the award to honor people who increase public awareness and use nonviolent methods for change.
"We hear a lot about thanking the military for our freedom," Wolfe said. "But we also need to thank civilians who fight for our rights and act as social activists."
Alves and Blakney hired Indianapolis attorney Mark Rutherford Monday to appeal the Delaware County Court's verdict and $2 fine. Blakney said they paid Rutherford $10,000 and will have to pay the county court $1,500 to transcribe their February hearing.
Blakney said she expects the appeals process to last a year and a half.
"We have the time and some resources that a lot of people don't have to pursue this," Blakney said.
Alves said their appeal challenges more than the $1 fines.
"It's about principles," he said.
Rutherford said he looks forward to working on the case. Because he was just hired, he said he couldn't comment on details.
"It takes a while to really come up to speed on a case," Rutherford said. "A criminal case over a guy taking pictures on a pig farm, it's very interesting how it came about the way it did."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
