This is a followup to my past post directed as a general query to the homesteading community readers, asking for confirmation of any details and wanting to sort fact from rumor in the case of the recent Manna Storehouse/Stowers Family foodstuffs confiscation.
In reply to a recent email of mine requesting information from the Stowers themselves about what happened to them, they directed me to the attorney in charge of responding to the public's questions. I haven't had the time to go that route yet, but just got a comment from the Runyons directing me to this YouTube video published on their site.
This is the Stowers' recent video interview. Thank you to Steve and Paula for the heads up!
Following the links in the video will take you to The Buckeye Institute site, where this recent article can be found. Here is an excerpt:
"The Stowers' constitutional rights were violated over grass-fed cattle, pastured chickens and pesticide-free produce," Buckeye Institute 1851 Center of Constitutional Law Director Maurice Thompson said. "Ohioans do not need a government permission slip to run a family farm and co-op, and should not be subjected to raids when they do not have one. This legal action will ensure the ODA understands and respects Ohioans' rights."
Click here to see a pdf copy of the complaint filed against the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Lorain County General Health District.
7 comments:
Wow, I'm sorry for you friends, but I think they got some big guns on their side.
Very, very, disturbing! Please update with details as you know them.
thanks for posting this. it does seem like a terrible injustice what these folks were put through.
this is what happens when government has too much power.
Wow. This just makes me feel ill. This poor family.
I am absolutely horrified. I need to go find more details about this. On what grounds was there private residence invaded? Was a search warrant presented? Have they been charged with a crime? Why did they take their food, of all things?
This is all incredibly disturbing... :-(
Pam, I don't know the family but originally posted here asking anyone else if they'd heard of this and could confirm it being true or not. I contacted the family who said they might issue a press release but who later gave the name of the attorney handling public information about it. A commenter here posted the video interview at their site and I included it here.
Their story differs from the information some of my commenters sent... law enforcement's story and the Stower's account seem at odds with each other and differ greatly.
I was simply trying to get to the bottom of whether this was true, or just a rumor. It's quite a serious matter and I am dismayed over the obvious issues at stake.
Oops, Amanda, Angie, Danni...meant my reply to all your comments, not just Pam's :)
I don't know the family personally. Regardless of any licensing or potential licensing issue needing correction, I can't for the life of me imagine this scenario unfolding in such gestapo-like fashion. Very very disturbing.
It is disturbing and I can say that this "raid" was someone's boost to their resume. That is how it works (whether there were regulatory problems with the co-op or not). it was overkill to say the least. How sad...
Post a Comment