In 2016 I met Steven Wise at the historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland Oregon while screening Unlocking The Cage. This documentary follows attorney Steven Wise and his team making history by filing lawsuits on behalf of his animal clients. Steven argues his clients should be considered legal persons.

The law defines a Legal Person as someone or some entity that has the capacity for legal right.

Common law countries including the United States have given these rights to things we as humans might find unusual like corporations, ships, mosques, rivers, and holy books. A legal person means you count in a courtroom, you’re not invisible to judges.

Steven’s Nonhuman Rights Project mission is to challenge an archaic, unjust legal status quo that views and treats all nonhuman animals as things with no rights. As with human rights, nonhuman rights are based on fundamental values and principles of justice such as liberty, autonomy, equality, and fairness. All of human history shows that the only way to truly protect human beings’ fundamental interests is to recognize their rights. It’s no different for nonhuman animals. It’s science.

Meet NhRP Clients – Tommy, Kiko, Hercules, Leo, Beulah, Karen, Minnie, and Happy.

Learn about the progress NhRP has made in the fight for nonhuman animal rights.

What is the Nonhuman Rights Project? A video explainer

Interview with Steven Wise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lx3iCBpBkI

Unlocking The Cage Synopsis.

Unlocking The Cage Trailer.