A Student's Fight for Chickens: What Happened and Why It Matters

Zoe Rosenberg, a 23-year-old UC Berkeley student and animal rights advocate, recently found herself in legal trouble. She was convicted of several charges after freeing four chickens from a Sonoma County poultry farm. To her, it was a rescue mission. To the farm owners, it was theft.

A High-Profile Trial

The trial drew significant attention from both the poultry industry and animal rights groups. Rosenberg was found guilty of:

• Conspiracy
• Trespassing
• Tampering with a vehicle

She could face up to five years in prison, but Rosenberg remains defiant, urging her supporters to continue fighting for animal rights.

Industry Backlash

Industry officials and the farm's general counsel, Herb Frerichs, condemned Rosenberg and her group, Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). They accuse the group of:

• Harassing workers
• Using illegal tactics

Prosecutors claimed Rosenberg planned the rescue for weeks, using disguises, fake uniforms, and an "Airbnb safe house."

Legal Controversy

Rosenberg admitted to creating social media content to promote DxE's campaign. Now, she is appealing her conviction. DxE argues that:

• Her attorneys were denied the right to present a "necessity defense."
• Evidence of animal cruelty was excluded from the trial.

DxE's History of Activism

This isn't DxE's first legal battle. In November 2023, co-founder Wayne Hsiung was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a similar incident. The Sonoma County Farm Bureau has criticized DxE's extreme methods, stating that the community rejects their tactics.

What's Next?

Rosenberg is awaiting her sentencing hearing and has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor until then. This case raises critical questions about:

• Activism
• The law
• Where to draw the line