News

Breaking news and publications from Direct Action Everywhere.

Media inquiry? Please email press@dxe.io.

Featured

All News

PRESS RELEASE

Activists Hold Vigil Outside Trader Joe's-Supplying Slaughterhouse in the Wake of Chicken Rescuer Conviction

November 8, 2025

DxE is calling for Petaluma Poultry to be prosecuted for scalding birds alive, citing that California’s animal cruelty law prohibits inflicting unnecessary cruelty on an animal.

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

Activists Hold Vigil Outside Trader Joe's-Supplying Slaughterhouse in the Wake of Chicken Rescuer Conviction

November 8, 2025

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

Animal Advocates Urge Attorney General Bonta to Prosecute Petaluma Poultry for Criminal Animal Abuse

November 5, 2025

Zoe Rosenberg spoke at the AG’s Office on Wednesday, saying, “Sonoma County’s District Attorney’s Office is not doing anything to address the criminal animal cruelty. Instead, they spent the last two years prosecuting me.”

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

Animal Advocates Urge Attorney General Bonta to Prosecute Petaluma Poultry for Criminal Animal Abuse

November 5, 2025

Read More

PRESS

UC Berkeley Activist Dealt Felony Conviction for Chicken ‘Rescue,’ Faces up to 5 Years in Prison

November 3, 2025

The Daily Californian

This case stems from an incident in June 2023, when Rosenberg removed four chickens from Perdue Farms’ Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse facility on what she described as a “rescue” mission. Rosenberg is represented by the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, who is leading the appeal process for her conviction and certain aspects of the judge’s ruling.

Read More

PRESS

UC Berkeley Activist Dealt Felony Conviction for Chicken ‘Rescue,’ Faces up to 5 Years in Prison

November 3, 2025

The Daily Californian

Read More

PRESS

Activist Who ‘Rescued’ Chickens from Poultry Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Trespassing

November 1, 2025

Local News Matters

Rosenberg even filmed the chicken rescue, so this wasn’t a case of did she or didn’t she. The defense presented a case in which Rosenberg believed she was acting lawfully since Petaluma Poultry was allegedly abusing animals. The group supports what they call the “right to rescue,” much like how citizens have a right to break into hot cars if they see a pet in distress.

Read More

PRESS

Activist Who ‘Rescued’ Chickens from Poultry Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Trespassing

November 1, 2025

Local News Matters

Read More

PRESS

An Animal Rights Activist Said She ‘Rescued’ Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy

October 30, 2025

Los Angeles Times

“These charges carry a potential sentence of nearly 5 years in jail,” DxE said in a statement. “Meanwhile, Petaluma Poultry faces no consequences for leaving sick animals to die or scalding animals alive.”

Read More

PRESS

An Animal Rights Activist Said She ‘Rescued’ Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy

October 30, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Read More

TOP PRESS

She Said She Was Rescuing Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy.

October 29, 2025

The New York Times

The four chickens she took with her — whom she named Poppy, Ivy, Aster and Azalea — are alive at a sanctuary for rescued farm animals, she said. “I will not apologize for taking sick, neglected animals to get medical care,” Ms. Rosenberg said in a statement. “When we see cruelty and violence, we can choose to ignore it or to intervene and try to make the world a better place.”

Read More

TOP PRESS

She Said She Was Rescuing Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy.

October 29, 2025

The New York Times

Read More

PRESS

US Woman Who ‘Rescued’ Four Chickens Found Guilty of Trespassing and Conspiracy

October 29, 2025

The Guardian

“Sonoma county spent over six weeks and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to protect a multibillion-dollar corporation from the rescue of four chickens worth less than $25,” Chris Carraway, Rosenberg’s attorney, said in a statement.

Read More

PRESS

US Woman Who ‘Rescued’ Four Chickens Found Guilty of Trespassing and Conspiracy

October 29, 2025

The Guardian

Read More

PRESS

Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Found Guilty in Sonoma Chicken Theft Case

October 29, 2025

KQED

When asked on the stand last week if she wants open rescue “to be something that happens everywhere,” Rosenberg told prosecutors: “Yes.” Rosenberg’s defense team is expected to appeal, creating the opportunity to set a legal precedent for the practice.

Read More

PRESS

Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Found Guilty in Sonoma Chicken Theft Case

October 29, 2025

KQED

Read More

TOP PRESS

UC Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Found Guilty in ‘Chicken Rescue’ Trial

October 29, 2025

San Francisco Chronicle

But even if the appellate court doesn’t reverse Rosenberg’s conviction, she likely won’t regret having risked prison time to force a trial. Her trial, by some measures, was still a success. Several national publications — including The New York Times and the Associated Press — covered it, raising awareness of DxE’s goal to eradicate America’s factory-farming industry by 2040.

Read More

TOP PRESS

UC Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Found Guilty in ‘Chicken Rescue’ Trial

October 29, 2025

San Francisco Chronicle

Read More

Our Top Press Hits

TOP PRESS

She Said She Was Rescuing Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy.

October 29, 2025

The New York Times

The four chickens she took with her — whom she named Poppy, Ivy, Aster and Azalea — are alive at a sanctuary for rescued farm animals, she said. “I will not apologize for taking sick, neglected animals to get medical care,” Ms. Rosenberg said in a statement. “When we see cruelty and violence, we can choose to ignore it or to intervene and try to make the world a better place.”

Read More

TOP PRESS

UC Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Found Guilty in ‘Chicken Rescue’ Trial

October 29, 2025

San Francisco Chronicle

But even if the appellate court doesn’t reverse Rosenberg’s conviction, she likely won’t regret having risked prison time to force a trial. Her trial, by some measures, was still a success. Several national publications — including The New York Times and the Associated Press — covered it, raising awareness of DxE’s goal to eradicate America’s factory-farming industry by 2040.

Read More

TOP PRESS

California Woman on Trial for Taking Chickens from Perdue Farms' Plant Says She Was Rescuing Them

October 28, 2025

The Associated Press

A California animal rights activist on trial for taking four chickens from one of Perdue Farms’ major poultry plants said Tuesday that she was rescuing Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea from abuse while prosecutors say she broke the law.

Read More

TOP PRESS

She Took Chickens from a Slaughterhouse. Was It a Rescue or a Crime?

October 24, 2025

The Guardian

I asked Rosenberg what outcome she was hoping for. “My ideal outcome is honestly just whatever is best for the animals,” she said. “An acquittal wouldn’t set an actual legal precedent, but it would set a social precedent, to some extent, and send an important message.”

Read More

TOP PRESS

UC Berkeley Activist Testifies She Saved Sick Birds, Not Stole Them, in Chicken Rescue Trial

October 17, 2025

San Francisco Chronicle

Before a jury in a Sonoma County courthouse, Rosenberg testified that she believed at the time that her actions, often called “open rescue,” were “lawfully justified” to prevent what she considered “criminal animal abuse” by Petaluma Poultry, a Sonoma-based operation owned by Perdue Farms, a major poultry supplier nationwide.

Read More

TOP PRESS

Berkeley Grad’s Chicken ‘Rescue’ Trial Begins in Sonoma County with Question of Intent vs. Crime

October 6, 2025

San Francisco Chronicle

Though Rosenberg is technically the one on trial, they plan to force a deep review of the often-unsavory practices occurring at meat-processing facilities across the country.

Read More

TOP PRESS

How the FBI and Big Ag Started Treating Animal Rights Activists as Bioterrorists

June 2, 2025

The Intercept

“Animal rights and environmental groups have committed more acts of terrorism than Al Qaeda,” warned an FBI agent who met with Big Ag groups.

Read More

TOP PRESS

This California Student Could Go to Prison for Taking Four Chickens. Was It a Crime or a ‘Rescue’?

May 1, 2025

San Francisco Chronicle

Just four months after she graduates on May 17 with a bachelor’s degree in social movement strategy, the straight-A student will stand trial in a Sonoma County courtroom for her June 2023 incursion into Petaluma Poultry, a processing facility owned by agribusiness giant Perdue Farms. If convicted for taking four chickens Perdue valued at around $24, she faces up to 5½ years in prison.

Read More

TOP PRESS

These California and Colorado Ballot Measures Are Terrifying the Meat Industry

October 10, 2024

Vox

In principle, there’s a lot of sense in capping the size of factory farms. Measure J’s proponents are betting that progressive Sonoma County, better known for its tasting rooms than its slaughterhouses, can push California — and the nation — in that direction.

Read More

DxE's Blog

BLOG

The Market Speaks

January 27, 2014

Read More

BLOG

Chipotle: Broken Promises and Blurred Lines

January 27, 2014

Read More

BLOG

An Open Letter to Chipotle

January 25, 2014

Read More

BLOG

Broken Promises - Santa Cruz

January 24, 2014

Read More

BLOG

Feminism & Liberationism

January 24, 2014

Read More

BLOG

Vegan Outreach: Wrong, but still a Friend

January 24, 2014

Read More

BLOG

False Love?

January 23, 2014

Read More

BLOG

Transforming Strength into Weakness

January 22, 2014

Read More

BLOG

"How does this burrito help me? "

January 19, 2014

Read More

Our Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: UCB Students Present Satirical “Factory Farm Defender” Award to Chancellor Carol Christ

April 10, 2022

UCB administrators claim the world’s largest chicken producer doesn’t use factory farming

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: Animal Activist Superglues Herself to Table at California State Capitol, Disrupts Assembly Meeting

April 5, 2022

Bill for moratorium against new factory farms was changed into bill calling for a study of the industry’s impacts

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

100+ Attend State Capitol Rally Supporting Factory Farm Moratorium Bill

March 8, 2022

The coalition event featured attendees representing Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), Sunrise Bay Area and the CA Democratic Environmental Caucus.

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

Utah judge rules to gag evidence of cruelty, disease at Smithfield Foods in trial of prominent animal rights activist

February 23, 2022

Two defendants face years in prison after removing sick piglets from the largest factory pig farm in the U.S.

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

California Assemblymember Introduces Moratorium on New Factory Farms and Slaughterhouses

February 20, 2022

California Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys) introduced a bill Friday to enact a moratorium on new factory farms and slaughterhouses statewide. Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José) is a joint author on the bill, AB 2764.

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

BREAK UP WITH TYSON: UCB Students’ Valentines Day Protest Calls Out University Sourcing from Factory Farms

February 13, 2022

UC Berkeley administrators claim the world’s largest chicken producer doesn’t use factory farming

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

After Mass Pig Killing Case Dismissal, State Capitol Protesters Decry “Ag-Gag” Laws

January 21, 2022

Demonstrators allege widespread criminal animal abuse by Iowa Select Farms

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

Iowa “Ag-Gag” Prosecution Dismissed Against Man Who Exposed Mass Pig Killings

January 18, 2022

Prosecution moved to dismiss case in advance of hearing on expanding media access to trial

Read More

PRESS RELEASE

East Bay Residents Hold Memorial Demonstration for Horses Killed at Golden Gate Fields

December 11, 2021

26 horses have died at the facility this year

Read More