Direct Action Everywhere - SF Bay Area

Just a friendly reminder that we will not have a meetup this Saturday. We will instead be going to Santa Rosa to welcome Wayne out of jail and then collect signatures for the ballot measure to ban factory farms in Sonoma County.

Rocky Chau, Conrad De Jesus, and Zoe Rosenberg have their arraignment hearing on December 14th following their unexpected arrests on November 30th moments after Wayne’s sentencing hearing.
We’ll show up at 7:45 am in support of the three of them to find out exactly what they’re being charged with. Please wear business casual or appropriate attire if possible.

Thank you!

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WHERE: 600 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa
WHEN: Monday, December 4th, 2023, 7:45 am
WEAR: Business casual or appropriate attire if possible.
WHO: Everyone is welcome! However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19. If you’re nervous, you can come observe or hold a sign quietly.
ACCESSIBILITY: Some walking and standing. A couple chairs will be on hand as needed.

Wayne Hsiung, co-founder of DxE, is getting out of jail and he needs your support! He’s has been held at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility since early November and will be very excited to see his friends and family after nearly 6 weeks incarcerated.

Over the past 5 years, activists within the DxE network have been conducting investigations and rescues inside of factory farms in Sonoma County. Sunrise Egg Farm was subject do an investigation and mass action/rescue in 2018 followed by an investigation and mass action/rescue of Reichardt Duck Farm in 2019. Instead of following up on reports of criminal animal cruelty happening at these facilities, the authorities went after the whistleblowers - Wayne included.

Wayne has indicated that one of the first activities he wants to do is gather signatures for the ballot initiative to ban factory farms in Sonoma County. We hope you can show up to support Wayne and help gather signatures on behalf of not only Wayne, but the animals languishing inside of factory farms in the county.

Coffee and snack will be provided in the am. Lunch will be provided at 3pm after signature gathering.

We will see you at the jail at 8am!

***Info on the trial and conviction*** https://theintercept.com/2023/11/04/animal-rescue-wayne-hsiung-dxe/

***Info on the ballot initiative***
https://www.endfactoryfarming.vote/

Sanctuary work day at ! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to volunteer at this wonderful local animal sanctuary! Operating a sanctuary is an incredible amount of work and so it’s so important that we go help out when we can! It’s also wodnerful to get to connect with the animals that we are fighting for 💗🐷💗
Make sure to follow and support and us at the next sanctuary dayWe do them monthly!

Vigil at the Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse where 49,000 sentient beings are destroyed every single day. We held this vigil the day before our friend Wayne’s sentencing hearing. We must never stop fighting for an end to this violence and killing. During the Animal Liberation Conference activists went inside of the facility and rescued chickens moments away from a brutal fate.

Join us on Monday for court support for our friends Zoe, Rocky, and Conrad who were arrested on felony charges on Thursday right after the sentencing hearing for Wayne. Zoe is out now but Rocky and Conrad and are still being held at Sonoma County Jail at least until Monday when a hearing is scheduled. We’ll show up at 7:30 am in support. Please wear business casual or appropriate attire if possible.
Thank you!

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WHERE: 600 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa

WHEN: Monday, December 4th, 2023, 7:30 am

WEAR: Business casual or appropriate attire if possible.

WHO: Everyone is welcome! However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19. If you’re nervous, you can come observe or hold a sign quietly.

ACCESSIBILITY: Some walking and standing. A couple chairs will be on hand as needed.

Join us tomorrow morning (Saturday 12/2) for the Meetup! We will go over all the news updates of what has been going on and also have a presentation about the sentencing yesterday and what it means for the movement!
Coffee, tea, and brunch will be provided!

Yesterday was a long day. One open rescue case ended and another began. Wayne Hsiung was sentenced to 90 days in jail plus 2 years of probation, and he is not allowed to be in contact with 13 of his friends who have been named as “co-conspirators.” After Wayne's hearing, in a shock to us all, Zoe Rosenberg, Rocky Ning, and Conrad de Jesus were arrested on warrants outside the courthouse and taken to the same jail where Wayne is. Rocky and Conrad were each charged with one count of felony conspiracy and two counts of misdemeanor trespass for investigating a factory farm in Sonoma County. Zoe Rosenberg, who has been repeatedly calling, emailing, and visiting county authorities to report evidence of animal cruelty, was charged with a total of 7 felonies and 6 misdemeanors! That's more charges than Wayne faced in his trial. Sonoma County is ramping up its repression of animal rights activists because we won't stop rescuing the victims they ignore. They want to scare us, to silence us, to separate us from one another. That's why we need to unite and speak up louder than ever before. The Right to Rescue is gaining momentum, and this county is the epicenter of it all.

📷 Michelle Del Cueto

2023.11.29 Vigil For Chickens at Petaluma "Poultry" Slaughterhouse on the eve of Wayne Hsiung's sentencing after . Photos by Paul Darwin Picklesimer.

Memories from last week’s Saturday Morning Meetup! ☺️
Every Saturday we have a community meetup with delicious homemade plant based brunch and presentations about things happening in the movement and interesting topics! Join us next Saturday at 11am at the Berkeley Animal Rights Center event page: dxe.io/meetup

The sentencing hearing is in just 3 days on Thursday 11/30! Join us united against animal cruelty and the repression of compassionate animal rescuers!
See you all there a 9am at 600 Administration Dr, Santa Rosa.
Plant-based lunch will be provided.

Fur Free Friday protest against on Black Friday! Huge shout out to and for organizing the demonstration.
Thanks to the hard work of activists fur has been banned in the state of California, however Louis Vuitton and other brands continue to sell the furs of tortured animals and their other locations around the world. We demand they stop supporting the cruelty and murder!

Join us the evening before sentencing to honor the victims of Petaluma “Poultry” Slaughterhouse. Afterwards, some people will be gathering for dinner at Amy’s Drive Thru at 7:00 pm.
Thank you!

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WHERE: 2630 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954, parking in the residential neighborhood just north of the action.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 29th, 5:00 pm

WEAR: Business casual or black attire if possible out of respect for the victims

WHO: Everyone is welcome! However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19. If you’re nervous, you can come observe or hold a sign quietly.

ACCESSIBILITY: Some walking and standing. A couple chairs will be on hand as needed.

CHAPTER MEMBER OF THE WEEK: Matthew Mckeefry

Matthew has been involved with DxE since December 2017. Throughout the years he has stayed really active and was also point person of the protest team. Recently, he’s been coming up to Sonoma County almost every weekend to collect signatures for a factory farm ban with Coalition to End Factory Farming. He has collected over 200 signatures! Here’s some more about Matthew:

When did you become an activist and why?
I went vegan after doing some research on animal agriculture and once I knew what goes on inside of farms, slaughterhouses and labs, I knew I had to become an activist. I started with passing out leaflets about animal rights before soon learning about DxE. It was incredibly inspiring to see people standing up and taking direct action, and I had to get involved.

What is the hardest thing for you about being an activist?
For me the hardest thing about being an activist is time constraints. I’m a student so trying to balance my time and make sure I have enough time for everything can be challenging at times.

What is one goal you are currently working on?
The Sonoma County factory farm ban ballot initiative is such an important campaign so I have a goal of trying to collect signatures for it at least once per week.

What are your interests outside of activism?
I like to lift weights, hike, camp and travel!

What is your favorite activist memory?
I have so many favorite activist memories but if I had to choose one, it would have to be taking part in the 150 mile march in 2019 when about 15 DxE activists marched from San Francisco city hall to the state capitol building in Sacramento in support of the Right to Rescue.

Photos from last Saturday’s wonderful Meetup! ☺️ We had delicious French toast for brunch, heard news updates from the community, and had an informative presentation about communication from UCSF psychiatrist Rob Daroff, MD, and psychologist and family therapy expert, Nicole Ward, PhD.
See you all next Saturday! ☺️
Thank you so much to .jpg for taking photos at the meetup!

While it can be nice to gather with loved ones and express gratitude, Thanksgiving marks the genocide of Indigenous peoples and the death of over 40 million turkeys every year.
Join us as we say to the celebration of colonization and animal exploitation.

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When: Wednesday, November 22 at 5pm
Where: Meeting on Chabot Rd & College Ave in Oakland, right by Crossroads Trading
Wear whatever you’d like. All materials will be provided.
Accessibility: This action will involve a 0.3 mile walk between the meeting location and the protest location as well as standing in place for about one hour. If you’d like us to bring a chair for you, please email [email protected]. The legal risk of this protest is low.

On the heels of the sentencing of Wayne Hsiung for actions pertaining to the rescue of animals in Sonoma County, it is more important than ever to connect with the animals that we work so hard to liberate. What better way to do this than returning to one of our favorite sanctuaries, Jolene’s Retreat! During our December workday, we will give a hand to the wonderful sanctuary located in beautiful Occidental, CA. Founded and operated by Kathy Cullen, the residents include an amazing family of pigs. Learn more about how this family was rescued and grew by attending this event!

We encourage carpooling as much as possible so reach out if you need a ride or can offer a ride. Contact Carla at [email protected]

We will gather and go over tasks at 10am so please be on time. Food/snacks will be provided but feel free to bring your own food. Make sure to have a water bottle to keep with you as you work. We will help with chores around the sanctuary. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, jeans are best, work boots or strong shoes (no open toed shoes), and gloves (there will be gloves provided if you do not have your own).

There will be a mandatory waiver to sign when you arrive.

Spending time with the animals we are fighting for is not only good for your mental health and well being but it reinforces our commitment to the cause.

Learn more about the sanctuary:

Jolene’s Retreat
https://www.jolenesretreat.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jolenesretreat/
https://www.facebook.com/jolenesretreat

Everyone we meet has their own unique and incredible story and experience. While we are all united for animal liberation, we all have our own backgrounds and stories to share! The Stories from the Community Meetup provides us a space for people in the DxE community to learn about and appreciate each other! At this stories from the community we will be hearing from Tor and Patrice!

Where: Berkeley Animal Rights Center West (2414 6th St, Berkeley)
When: November 25th, 11am ~ 12:30pm
What: Community meetup

- If you cannot join in person, you can join at 11:15am on Zoom at this link: dxe.io/meetupzoom

- ARC West is a 30 minute walk from North Berkeley BART and only a 10 minute walk from the 51B bus stop at University and 6th St.

- Dogs that like other dogs are welcome at this event!

- There will be brunch and coffee for suggested donation, please bring your own reusable plate and cup if possible!

Every Saturday at 11am we have Meetups for everyone and anyone who cares about animals and making the world a better place! 🌍🐮🐷🐔🐭🦊🐠
Learn more about our values here: dxe.io/values

Join us for a nonviolent anti-fur demonstration in San Francisco on November 24th for Fur-Free Friday. We will be protesting outside of Louis Vuitton and MaxMara.

Louis Vuitton, a renowned luxury brand, continues to incorporate fur into their designs, contributing to the suffering of countless animals. Multiple other companies under LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) sell fur as well so we want to continue to put pressure on them to announce a fur-free policy. MaxMara is a brand based in Italy who continues to sell fur as well. They only have 5 US locations, one of which is San Francisco.

What: holding signs, chanting, distributing informational materials, and engaging in nonviolent demonstrations

Where: meet in the center of Union Square for briefing. LV is across the street at 233 Geary & MaxMara is just 2 blocks east

When: 2:00pm, November 24, 2023

Who: Everyone welcome! If you’re nervous about protesting, you can come observe or hold a sign quietly. All forms of participation are appreciated and legal risk for this protest is very low.

Union Square is a very high traffic, high stimulus environment. We will be standing in place for up to two hours. If you want earplugs email [email protected]

Meetup this Saturday! What can we do to increase the likelihood that our concerns and values will be heard by friends and family members? Even if we don’t end up converting them to our perspectives, we will learn strategies in this meetup that can at least open doors with our loved ones. Join us for practical tips and discussion led by UCSF psychiatrist/DxE member Rob Daroff, MD, and psychologist and family therapy expert, Nicole Ward, PhD.

Where: Berkeley Animal Rights Center West (2414 6th St, Berkeley)
When: Saturday, November 18th, 11am ~ 12:30pm
What: Community meetup
- If you cannot join in person, you can join at 11:15am on Zoom at this link: dxe.io/meetupzoom
- ARC West is a 30 minute walk from North Berkeley BART and only a 10 minute walk from the 51B bus stop at University and 6th St.
- Dogs that like other dogs are welcome at this event!
- There will be brunch and coffee for suggested donation, please bring your own reusable plate and cup if possible!
Every Saturday at 11am we have Meetups for everyone and anyone who cares about animals and making the world a better place!
Learn more about our values here: dxe.io/values

Repost from our friends and community members at :
Are you nervous about collecting signatures for the first time? Need support? Have concerns and/or questions? Attend this zoom call where we’ll have an orientation, training, and can answer any of your questions and/or concerns about signature collecting! Now let’s get a factory farm ban on the 2024 ballot in Sonoma County! Our goal is to collect 30,000 signatures so we still have a long ways to go and we need all the help we can get!

When: Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30pm
Where: Zoom link: bit.ly/introceff

See you there!

CHAPTER MEMBER OF THE WEEK: Patrice Wagner

Patrice has been involved with DxE since May of this year. Since then, she has stayed very involved, went to Santa Rosa multiple times to collect signatures, and recently got a letter to the editor piece published in the SF Chronicle about the Sonoma Rescue Trial! Here’s some more about Patrice:

When did you become an activist and why?
I became a vegetarian 25 years ago because it didn’t feel right for me to eat meat, and about eight years ago when I learned what’s going on at factory farms, I went vegan. I started volunteering for a non-profit organization two years ago doing emails and social media campaigns for animals but no protests or open rescues.

It didn’t seem like my efforts were making an impact so I researched other groups that were using different methods to help factory farmed animals—and since May of this year, I’ve been joining in DxE’s actions.

What is the hardest thing for you about being an activist?
The hardest part of being an activist for me is knowing how badly some animals are treated and that my actions are helping so little in relation to what these beings actually need.

What is one goal you are currently working on?
I’m trying to find out how I can be of more help to animals incarcerated in factory farms.

What are your interests outside of activism?
I’m a certified yoga instructor with a specialty in teaching people with disabilities although I’m not teaching right now. I practice gentle yoga and meditation, read, swim, and spend time walking my dog Peanut—a Min Pin and Chihuahua rescue.

What is your favorite activist memory?
Being part of the protest march in San Francisco this past June was really uplifting. I have multiple sclerosis so I can’t walk very far but it felt great to join the march for the few blocks that I managed to go!

We are outraged that animal rescuer Wayne Hsiung was cuffed and taken into custody after being convicted of felony conspiracy and two counts of misdemeanor trespass for helping animals facing criminal abuse. He has a sentencing hearing set for November 30th. He will be in jail until then, without bail. We will be mobilizing at the sentencing hearing on November 30th to support Wayne and defend the . Please join us.
Thank you!

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WHERE: 600 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa, CA

WHEN: Thursday, November 30th, 9:00 am

WEAR: Business casual attire if possible

WHO: Everyone is welcome! However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19. If you’re nervous, you can come observe or hold a sign quietly.

ACCESSIBILITY: Some walking and standing. A couple chairs will be on hand as needed.

CHAPTER MEMBER OF THE WEEK: Leo Chia

Leo has been involved with DxE since September 2019. He has been getting really active with signature collecting for the factory farm ban in Sonoma County with Coalition to End Factory Farming. He’s gone up to Santa Rosa for several weekends, gave rides to people, and has collected over 100 signatures! Here’s some more about Leo:

When did you become an activist and why?
I became an activist in Sept 2019 because I accidentally moved into a vegan house! I missed a sentence on the housing post which stated no animal products were allowed in the house, went and visited the house, loved it, and then realized I needed to be plant-based in said house. Without much thought I just said to myself “I might as well be vegan” since I had seen factory farm footage before and did try to become vegetarian for a day and a half but gave in because I only ate vegetables and didn’t really know how to satiate my hunger nor have complete nutrition.

What is the hardest thing for you about being an activist?
The hardest thing is to reconcile beliefs about meat eaters and plant-based folks and step into their shoes.

What is one goal you are currently working on?
I am trying to study in my own time so that I can go back to college and do well.

What are your interests outside of activism?
I like running, swimming and outdoorsy stuff.

What is your favorite activist memory?
2023 ALC march.

On Friday the ended with our friend being cuffed and taken to jail for trying to help suffering animals at factory farms in Sonoma County. As soon as the verdict came down, we marched to the District Attorneys officer with reports of criminal animal cruelty from recent investigations at the factory farms involved in the ; Sunrise “Farms” and Reichardt Duck “Farm”.
The DA’s office literally locked the doors in our faces, refusing to allow us to submit the reports about animal cruelty. We then marched to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office to try to submit the reports to the authorities there. We ended our march at the jail where Wayne is currently incarcerated. We held a vigil outside.
Thank you for taking these photos at the action!

Last Sunday we had a wonderful sanctuary volunteer work day at and 💗
Thank you all who were able to join!

Building an inviting, effective, and resilient community in the face of repression and incarceration can feel impossible, but techniques developed by generations of activists can teach us to build a culture of security that balances trust and privacy. DxE investigators Zoe Rosenberg and Lewis Bernier will walk through the basic principles of Security Culture and lead exercises to practice responding in difficult scenarios.

Where: Berkeley Animal Rights Center West (2414 6th St, Berkeley)
When: Saturday, November 11th, 11am ~ 12:30pm
What: Community meetup

- If you cannot join in person, you can join at 11:15am on Zoom at this link: dxe.io/meetupzoom
- ARC West is a 30 minute walk from North Berkeley BART and only a 10 minute walk from the 51B bus stop at University and 6th St.
- Dogs that like other dogs are welcome at this event!
- There will be brunch and coffee for suggested donation, please bring your own reusable plate and cup if possible!

Due to the hard work of over 100 volunteers, we qualified a CAFO ban for the Berkeley ballot! On November 7th, the Berkeley City Council has the opportunity to directly pass the initiative themselves, rather than put it forth for the November 2024 election. While we feel confident that the people of Berkeley would vote YES next year, we would love for the council to pass this now. Not only would this expedite the implementation of the measure, it would save the city and us a lot of resources.

Please come to the Berkeley City Council meeting in person on November 7th to show your support (and speak, if you want) for No More Factory Farms. If you cannot come in person, you are able to join and speak online.

Where: We will meet outside 1231 Addison St in Berkeley.
When: We will meet at 6:00pm. We do not know how long it will take to get to item #18 on the agenda.
Wear: Your yellow No More Factory Farms shirt, if you have one. If you don’t, something else yellow is good, too!

We are #18 on the agenda. You can find call-in details and the entire agenda here:https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/city-council-meetings/2023-11-07%20Agenda%20Packet%20-%20Council%20-%20WEB_0.pdf

Come on out and enjoy this unique opportunity to provide immediate assistance to our feathered friends. Stroll through the streets of downtown San Francisco, chat with friends, educate the public, and help save a life. We will also be providing free food and toys to the unhoused companion animals. We all need a helping hand sometimes, here’s your chance to be that hand.

WHAT: Every day there are hundreds of pigeons throughout the city of San Francisco who have strings and hair wrapped around their toes so tightly that it causes immense pain. Eventually, their toes lose circulation, become amputated, or develop severe infections. We can help our bird friends by removing the string before it gets too serious, providing medical care, and releasing them back to their flocks!

WHERE: ** New Meeting Location ** We will be meeting between the Heart of the City Farmers Market at the United Nations Plaza along Market Street between 7th and 8th Streets and the Federal Office Building. This is where we normally begin looking for pigeons. It is behind the market.

WHEN: Sunday, November 12th, 11am-2pm

Contact Carla from the Animal Care working group with any questions: [email protected]

Check out this video to learn more about pigeon first aid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trbfTa3qX5E

We will provide all supplies needed to help pigeons.

Today, The Intercept reports on the verdict in the and the judicial obstacles that Wayne faced and will be appealing. Natasha Lennard writes, "Hsiung's defense was in many ways stymied from the jump. The judge barred almost all photo and video evidence of animal cruelty from the trial, as has been the case in a number of previous DxE trials. As I’ve previously noted, the decision to disallow such evidence is usually made to benefit a defendant — not showing gruesome images of a murder victim, for example. Such logic has been flipped in DxE cases, including Hsiung’s most recent, to the benefit of powerful agribusiness."

Read the full story: https://theintercept.com/2023/11/04/animal-rescue-wayne-hsiung-dxe/

Join us this Sunday to hold a peaceful vigil outside the jail where our friend and animal rescuer, Wayne Hsiung, is being held. We will have materials to write letters for Wayne.
The Sonoma Rescue Trial ended this Thursday with animal rescuer Wayne Hsiung was cuffed and taken into custody. He was convicted of felony conspiracy and two counts of misdemeanor trespass for helping suffering animals in factory farms. This is a huge injustice because the real crime IS the illegal animal cruelty happening at the massive factory farms Sunrise Farms and Reichardt Duck Farm. While the authorities waste time and money prosecuting compassionate activists, animals are suffering and being killed and nothing is being done to help them!

Wayne is in jail without bail until the sentencing hearing on 11/30. We want to mobilize people at the sentencing hearing so please mark your calendar for November 30th to support Wayne and defend the . Event page for the sentencing hearing is here: https://fb.me/e/306HjWxUs
If you need a ride or can offer a ride to the 11/30 sentencing hearing please message Kitty or email her at [email protected]

Volunteer opportunity this Sunday to help shut down animal-torturing factory farms!
*PLEASE READ THE SCHEDULE BELOW*
Our goal is to collect 30,000 signatures to ban animal factory farms in Sonoma County. Help get this important and historic ban on the ballot. Sundays are one of the best days to collect signatures so join us this Sunday!

Here is what the schedule will look like:
10:30am - Gather at the park. Snacks and drinks will be provided to take with you while collecting.
10:45am - Orientation and short training about signature collecting
11am - Get into pairs, get materials, and head out to your assigned locations!
3pm - Regroup at the park to hand in your packets and enjoy more snacks and refreshments

Where: Juilliard Park, 227 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
When: Sunday, November 5th, meeting at 10:30am then re-grouping at 3pm
What: Volunteer event to collect signatures for ballot measure to ban factory farms

We are outraged by the verdict in the Sonoma Rescue Trial!
On Thursday, animal rescuer Wayne Hsiung was cuffed and taken into custody after being convicted of felony conspiracy and two counts of misdemeanor trespass for helping animals facing criminal abuse. He is in jail right now and remain there until the sentencing hearing on 11/30.
This will not stop us for fighting for animal liberation. During the trial activists continued to investigate and rescue animals frm the very factory farms involved in this trial; Sunrise Farms and Reichardt Duck Farm!
Join us this Saturday at the Meetup to share how you are feeling, connect with others in the community, as well as, hear about the latest Open Rescue, what this verdict means for animals and the movement, and what we will be doing next!!!