Skip to main content
  • Our New Client in Our First California Lawsuit 
  • LA Times: “For too long, we’ve salved our consciences with tepid animal welfare laws”
  • “The most important animal-rights case of the 21st century”
  • NhRP Seminar Series
  • NhRP Interview Series
<
>
Blog

Back to nonhumanrights.org

  • Donate
  • Shop   ↗

Back to nonhumanrights.org

  • About NhRP
    • Meet the Team
    • Our Story
    • FAQ
    • Unlocking the Cage
    • Media Center
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Litigation
    • Legislation + Advocacy
    • Education
    • The Fight to #FreeTheFresnoElephants
    • Free Happy Now
  • Progress
  • Blog

Cases

A Message From Steve to NhRP Supporters Re: Tommy & Kiko Appellate Decision

By Steven Wise on June 8, 2017
Share this story:

On March 16th, I stood before the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division arguing that the Court must recognize Tommy and Kiko as “persons” with the capacity for fundamental rights.

Today, the Court held that the NhRP could not seek a second writ of habeas corpus on behalf of Tommy and Kiko: denying our clients the justice they’ve waited far too long for.

For over 2000 years all nonhuman animals have been considered legal things who lack the capacity for any legal rights. This is not going to change without a struggle. With your help, that fight has begun and we remain confident that Tommy’s and Kiko’s fundamental right to bodily liberty will be recognized as a matter of justice so that they too may experience the freedom they so desperately deserve. Public opinion has begun to tilt in our favor since we started filing these lawsuits, likely as a result of them.

Over the next few days, the NhRP legal team will do a full review of the court’s decision and begin to plan our next steps for Tommy and Kiko.

I wanted to personally thank you for your continued support and reassure you that we will continue fighting for the fundamental rights of all our nonhuman animal clients.

Steven Wise is the founder and president of the NhRP, representing nonhuman animals in the courtroom and serving as lead spokesperson for the organization’s work.

Must Reads

  • Why Happy needs and deserves sanctuary in Campaigns, Cases
  • Amicus Support for the Fight to #FreeHappy in Cases
  • Where is Tommy the Chimp? in News
  • Why We Fight for Nonhuman Rights: Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s Story Part 1 in Stories
  • “The key is ending injustice, period” in Interviews

Get Involved

Subscribe to our email list to receive updates and learn about events and volunteer opportunities in your area.

Nonhuman Rights Project

We are the only civil rights organization in the United States dedicated solely to securing rights for nonhuman animals.

5195 NW 112th Terrace
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Tax ID #: 04-3289466

Sign up to receive updates

© 2023 Nonhuman Rights Project, all rights reserved.

  • Privacy

Follow us to get updates