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PRESS

Chinese Lawyer Convicted of Trespassing on Farm to Save Animals Was Sentenced by Judge

December 1, 2023

KTSF26

The defendant's father, Xiong Hansheng, said: "I think it's unfair, he didn't commit a crime, he just wanted to protect animals, so I'm a little disappointed, but I also feel that I hope Wayne's behavior can make many animals more protected."

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PRESS

Chinese Lawyer Convicted of Trespassing on Farm to Save Animals Was Sentenced by Judge

December 1, 2023

KTSF26

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PRESS

Three Animal Rights Activists Were Abruptly Arrested Following a Sentencing Hearing for One of Their Friends

December 1, 2023

VICE News

Authorities seem to be opening a new front against Direct Action Everywhere, an attention-grabbing group that says it documents cruelty and neglect in factory farming.

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PRESS

Three Animal Rights Activists Were Abruptly Arrested Following a Sentencing Hearing for One of Their Friends

December 1, 2023

VICE News

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PRESS

Animal Rights Activist Wayne Hsuing Gets 90 days in Jail over Protests That Shut Sonoma Farms

December 1, 2023

CBS Bay Area

The organization is hoping to make legal the right of people to enter places such as a factory farm to remove animals that are being "exploited" or are in distress.

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PRESS

Animal Rights Activist Wayne Hsuing Gets 90 days in Jail over Protests That Shut Sonoma Farms

December 1, 2023

CBS Bay Area

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PRESS

Animal Rights Activist Wayne Hsiung Gets 3-Month Jail Term for Freeing Sick Factory Farm Birds

December 1, 2023

Democracy Now!

In California, animal rights activist and attorney Wayne Hsiung has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after he was found guilty of felony conspiracy and misdemeanor trespassing for rescuing dozens of injured and dying ducks and chickens at two factory farms in Sonoma County, California.

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PRESS

Animal Rights Activist Wayne Hsiung Gets 3-Month Jail Term for Freeing Sick Factory Farm Birds

December 1, 2023

Democracy Now!

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PRESS

Wayne Hsiung Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail in the Sonoma Open Rescue Trial

December 1, 2023

UnchainedTV

Hsiung could have been sentenced to three years in jail. So, at first blush, the relatively light sentence caused relief amongst his supporters. However, it quickly became apparent that the sentence contained an onerous condition. Without the prosecution asking for this, the judge ordered Hsiung to have no contact with the other named “co-conspirators” in this case, who just happen to be most of his closest friends.

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PRESS

Wayne Hsiung Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail in the Sonoma Open Rescue Trial

December 1, 2023

UnchainedTV

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PRESS

Animal Rights Activist Sentenced to 90 Days in County Jail

November 30, 2023

Northern California Public Media

Hsiung’s father, Hansen Hsiung, spoke about the sentence outside the courthouse. "I expect something worse than this," Hansen Hsiung said. "So I feel great relief, even though I know that Wayne doesn't deserve any jail sentence, doesn't deserve to be convicted as a criminal."

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PRESS

Animal Rights Activist Sentenced to 90 Days in County Jail

November 30, 2023

Northern California Public Media

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PRESS RELEASE

Activist Sentenced to Jail for Rescuing Sick Animals from Factory Farms

November 30, 2023

The University of Denver’s Animal Activist Legal Defense Project is working on the appeal. Attorney Chris Carraway said, “I often hear courts describe trials as a search for the truth. Mr. Hsiung’s trial was anything but. The press had limited access; trial participants were unconstitutionally gagged from the beginning; and the court bent over backwards to prevent the defense from detailing the chronic animal cruelty found which informed the intent behind the actions."

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PRESS RELEASE

Activist Sentenced to Jail for Rescuing Sick Animals from Factory Farms

November 30, 2023

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PRESS

3 Arrested during Santa Rosa Protest after Sentencing for Animal Welfare Activist

November 30, 2023

Press Democrat

Shortly after court recessed, animal welfare activist Zoe Rosenberg, who said she was going to drop printed evidence of animal cruelty at Reichardt Duck Farm at the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, asked others to march with her to the department a few blocks away. As they approached the parking lot, Sheriff’s Office vehicles approached and deputies arrested Rosenberg and two other demonstrators, Rocky Chau and Conrad de Jesus.

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PRESS

3 Arrested during Santa Rosa Protest after Sentencing for Animal Welfare Activist

November 30, 2023

Press Democrat

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PRESS

Direct Action Everywhere Co-founder Wayne Hsiung Sentenced in Conspiracy Case Involving Petaluma Poultry Farms

November 30, 2023

North Bay Business Journal

A dozen of Wayne Hsiung’s supporters watched silently — some of whom fought back tears — as Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Laura Passaglia sentenced Hsiung to 90 days in county jail, followed by two years of probation.

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PRESS

Direct Action Everywhere Co-founder Wayne Hsiung Sentenced in Conspiracy Case Involving Petaluma Poultry Farms

November 30, 2023

North Bay Business Journal

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Our Top Press Hits

TOP PRESS

Compassion Is Not a Crime: Animal Rights Activist Avoids Jail After Conviction for Baby Goat Rescue

December 8, 2021

Democracy Now!

In conversation with host Amy Goodman, DxE investigator Wayne Hsiung asks “Are the living creatures of this Earth property, or are they living creatures that deserve some form of dignity and respect?”

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TOP PRESS

A US activist took a sick goat from a meat farm – now he faces seven years in jail

December 6, 2021

The Guardian

This case is about smashing the myth of benevolent small-scale farms, which may talk of free-range and happy animals, but still ultimately treat animals as property and slaughter them for profit.

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TOP PRESS

Animal rights activists opposed to ‘factory farms’ protest outside Gavin Newsom’s home

September 29, 2021

The Sacramento Bee

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TOP PRESS

Chickens Severely Mistreated At “Humane” California Slaughterhouse, New Video Alleges

September 29, 2021

The Intercept

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TOP PRESS

Berkeley to serve vegan meals at jails, public buildings

July 29, 2021

The Hill

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TOP PRESS

Industry foe charged under Iowa's new food trespassing law

April 8, 2021

ABC News

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TOP PRESS

After Pork Giant Was Exposed for Cruel Killings, the FBI Pursued Its Critics

February 17, 2021

The Intercept

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TOP PRESS

Charges dropped against activist who exposed Iowa hog deaths

January 29, 2021

ABC News

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TOP PRESS

Activist posing as Smithfield CEO hoaxes Fox’s Maria Bartiromo

December 23, 2020

The Washington Post

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DxE's Blog

BLOG

The Press Won't Link California's Elephant Seal Deaths to Factory Farms

May 28, 2026

The elephant seals at Año Nuevo are dying because they share beaches with infected seabirds — infected because H5N1 has become endemic in wild bird populations worldwide, a spread driven in significant part by the concentration and global trade of farmed poultry.

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BLOG

“Make Sure It’s a F***ing Felony": What Happened at the Preliminary Hearing in the Meyenberg Rescue Case

May 20, 2026

Deputies testified that they never investigated the animal cruelty allegations at the dairy or referred them to any agency, despite being told about dead and suffering animals on site. One officer even defended the facility by claiming that “you can go to any dairy, anywhere in the country, and there will be dead goats there.”

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BLOG

How Pepper Spray Can Save Puppies

April 22, 2026

Open rescue as a strategy is not just about getting a few animals out of their cages, it is also about creating a crisis that can no longer be ignored. It is about forcing the public and people in power to choose a side.

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BLOG

An Open Letter Responding to Western United Dairies' Disinformation

March 19, 2026

The dairy industry trade group's CEO, Anja Raudabaugh, spread blatant lies about animal rights activists on a recent podcast discussing DxE's latest project, FactoryFarmWatch.org. This blog corrects the record and invites Ms. Raudabaugh to engage in an honest and transparent conversation.

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BLOG

Exposing Big Ag with Factory Farm Watch

February 19, 2026

Factory Farm Watch is more than a map. It is a launchpad for statewide action to end factory farming.

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BLOG

ALC India Was a Huge Success!

February 6, 2026

A summary of the first annual Animal Liberation Conference in India, co-hosted by DxE and Indore Animal Liberation

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BLOG

An Open Letter to My Judge

January 4, 2026

I think the public has made it resoundingly clear that they feel Perdue should be prosecuted for its crimes. I hope you'll take that into consideration and use your power as a judge to do some good for these animals. 

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BLOG

Zoe's Reflections on Animal Rising's Beagle Rescue Trial Verdict

December 18, 2025

No prosecution, conviction, or sentence, will ever stop a movement driven by compassion and care.

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BLOG

An Open Letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta

December 17, 2025

I write to you from this jail cell on behalf of the animals, to beg for your assistance and intervention. This cruelty and suffering has gone on far too long.

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Our Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: Activists Protest Merck For Purchasing Dogs for Animal Testing From Notorious Ridglan Farms

June 12, 2026

Dozens of animal rights activists protested outside biopharmaceutical giant Merck’s West Coast headquarters on Friday, condemning the company’s recent purchase of beagles for animal testing from Ridglan Farms, a notorious dog breeding facility near Madison, Wisconsin that has made national headlines in recent months.

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PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: Activists Protest Stanislaus County DA, Urging Prosecution of Calf Ranch for Animal Cruelty

June 2, 2026

Terry Seese, the Chief of the DA’s Bureau of Investigation, came to speak to the advocates. He took the letter and confirmed the DA’s office is aware of the footage taken at Agresti Calf Ranch, but deflected responsibility onto the Sheriff’s office, which has not made a referral.

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PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: Activists Protest Petco to Demand End of All Animal Sales

May 17, 2026

Following San Francisco Animal Commission’s vote to recommend a ban on the retail sale of animals, advocates rallied in San Francisco to bring attention to cruelty of the exotic pet trade

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PRESS RELEASE

Activists Hold Vigil for Calves After Investigation Exposes Illegal Animal Cruelty

May 16, 2026

Activists gathered peacefully on public property by the calf ranch to bear witness to the calves and called on authorities to take action to protect these vulnerable animals. Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies were already present when activists arrived and warned them not to trespass.

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PRESS RELEASE

Calves Kicked, Violently Handled at Clover Sonoma-Linked Calf Ranch, Drone Footage Reveals

May 12, 2026

New footage showing illegal animal cruelty at a Clover Sonoma-linked calf ranch was published today at FactoryFarmWatch.org. The footage, which was obtained via drone at Agresti Calf Ranch in Stanislaus County, shows calves being kicked in the face, yanked by their tails, and disbudded with hot irons until they collapse in pain.

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PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: Activists Protest Whole Foods Over Goat Milk Supplier Cruelty, Felony Charges Against Rescuers

May 2, 2026

“Whole Foods presents itself as an ethical retailer, but it continues to sell milk connected to serious animal welfare concerns,” said Madhu Anderson, who organized the protest. “We’re asking them to take responsibility for what’s happening in their supply chain.”

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PRESS RELEASE

VIDEO: Activists Protest at Meyenberg Goat Milk Plant, After Prosecution of Animal Cruelty Investigators

April 11, 2026

Protesters at the Meyenberg plant held signs reading “Meyenberg Lies, Animals Die” and “Compassion Is Not a Crime.” Two of the defendants were present and spoke out about the cruelty they documented at Vera Goat Dairy.

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PRESS RELEASE

Four People Charged with Felony Grand Theft for Rescuing Sick Goats from Whole Foods-Supplying Goat Dairy

March 25, 2026

Four activists have been charged with felony grand theft by the Kings County District Attorney following the open rescue of two sick baby goats from Vera Goat Dairy in Stratford last May. Vera is a 9,000-goat operation that supplies the nation's largest goat milk producer, Meyenberg.

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PRESS RELEASE

Marin Grocer Good Earth Cuts Ties with Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry Amidst Animal Cruelty Concerns

March 11, 2026

Controversial chicken producer Petaluma Poultry has lost another customer following an investigation by animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), which exposed animal neglect and cruelty at the company’s factory farms and slaughterhouse in Sonoma County.

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