Sonoma County Activist Convicted in ‘Chicken Rescue’ Case
Zoe Rosenberg, an animal rights activist with the group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), was found guilty on May 2, 2024, of petty theft and trespassing following a “rescue” of four chickens from a Petaluma poultry facility in November 2023. The Sonoma County jury’s decision followed a trial where the defence argued the actions were motivated by compassion for animals in distress, while prosecutors maintained that Rosenberg violated the law.
The charges stemmed from an incident where rosenberg and othre DxE members removed four hens - poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea - from Petaluma Poultry, alleging they were suffering from neglect. Rosenberg testified she sought too provide the chickens with medical care. The jury deliberations lasted approximately six hours, and the verdict was unanimous.
“Everyone was the same,” Rosenberg’s attorney, Eric Carraway, reported after the verdict.
The case is part of a pattern of similar legal battles faced by DxE members nationwide. In October 2022, two activists were acquitted of burglary and theft in Utah after removing two piglets from a farm. Similarly, in March 2023, two DxE members were found not guilty of misdemeanor theft in Merced County after taking two chickens from a Foster Farms facility.
Though, the Sonoma County outcome differs from these earlier cases. Rosenberg’s arrest followed the sentencing of DxE co-founder Wayne Hsiung to 90 days in jail and two years’ probation in a similar Sonoma County case.Since then, DxE has increased its activism in the area, including demonstrations outside Trader Joe’s, blocking delivery trucks, and supporting a 2024 ballot measure aimed at restricting large-scale poultry and livestock operations, which voters rejected. The group also sponsored a billboard along Highway 101 near Petaluma questioning weather Rosenberg should face imprisonment for “rescuing” a chicken; prosecutors unsuccessfully attempted to have the billboard removed, fearing it would influence potential jurors.
following the verdict, District Attorney Jennifer Rodriguez stated her office would continue to prosecute activists who “blur the line between protest and crime,” asserting that some groups “have attempted to use the criminal justice system as a platform to gain attention and further their movement.”
Leaders in Sonoma County’s agricultural community welcomed the decision. Herb Frerichs, general counsel for Petaluma Poultry, said the verdict demonstrated that “personal beliefs don’t justify breaking the law.” Dayna Ghirardelli, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, stated the decision underscored public rejection of DxE’s tactics and support for local farmers.
Carraway criticized the prosecution as a misuse of resources, stating the county “spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to protect a multi-billion-dollar corporation from the rescue of four chickens worth less than $25.”
Rosenberg, who had previously worn a GPS monitor for 20 months during the case, had the device reinstalled on her ankle outside the courthouse after the verdict.she expressed no regrets.
“I will not apologize for taking sick, neglected animals to get medical care,” Rosenberg said. “Because I did, Poppy, Ivy, Aster and Azalea are alive today. For that, I will never be sorry.” She added,while addressing a crowd of over 20 supporters,”I think about all of the chickens who are suffering every moment of their lives – and who advocates for them?”
