Zoe Rosenberg, a 23-year-old Berkeley animal rights activist, has been found guilty of conspiracy and misdemeanor charges in connection with her role in a high-profile "chicken rescue" operation at Petaluma Poultry in Sonoma County. The verdict, delivered by a jury after nearly three hours of deliberation, marks a significant blow to Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), the group Rosenberg is part of.
Rosenberg and several fellow activists entered the poultry farm's property in May 2023, attaching GPS trackers to vehicles and searching for files before taking four chickens from a trailer. The operation was seen as a publicity stunt by prosecutors, who argued that Rosenberg and her co-conspirators planned and executed the rescue with the intention of attracting media attention.
Despite Rosenberg's claims that she acted out of moral duty to save animals suffering at Petaluma Poultry, the prosecution presented evidence suggesting that the group had been planning the operation for some time and were motivated by a desire for publicity. The jury rejected this narrative in favor of the defense's argument that Rosenberg was driven by conscience rather than criminal intent.
Rosenberg faces up to four and a half years in jail when she returns for sentencing on December 3, but is likely to be granted probation due to her medical condition and the non-violent nature of the charges. As part of her sentence, she will wear an ankle monitor and remain at least 500 yards away from any animal farm.
The verdict has sparked outrage among DxE supporters, who see Rosenberg's actions as a moral intervention in the face of systemic animal cruelty. The group has been known for its high-profile demonstrations and "open rescues," which have often drawn national attention – but also frequent backlash.
Prosecutors hailed the verdict as a victory, arguing that it reaffirms that activists cannot take the law into their own hands. District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said that the verdict shows that "personal beliefs don't justify breaking the law."
Rosenberg's lawyer, Chris Carraway, has vowed to appeal the jury's decision, saying that the prosecution's request for Rosenberg to be taken into custody was "disgusting" and citing her medical condition as a reason why she should not face jail time.
Despite the conviction, Rosenberg remains defiant, stating that she will never apologize for taking sick animals to get them medical care. She believes that by doing so, she has saved lives – a sentiment echoed by many of her supporters outside the courthouse.
Rosenberg and several fellow activists entered the poultry farm's property in May 2023, attaching GPS trackers to vehicles and searching for files before taking four chickens from a trailer. The operation was seen as a publicity stunt by prosecutors, who argued that Rosenberg and her co-conspirators planned and executed the rescue with the intention of attracting media attention.
Despite Rosenberg's claims that she acted out of moral duty to save animals suffering at Petaluma Poultry, the prosecution presented evidence suggesting that the group had been planning the operation for some time and were motivated by a desire for publicity. The jury rejected this narrative in favor of the defense's argument that Rosenberg was driven by conscience rather than criminal intent.
Rosenberg faces up to four and a half years in jail when she returns for sentencing on December 3, but is likely to be granted probation due to her medical condition and the non-violent nature of the charges. As part of her sentence, she will wear an ankle monitor and remain at least 500 yards away from any animal farm.
The verdict has sparked outrage among DxE supporters, who see Rosenberg's actions as a moral intervention in the face of systemic animal cruelty. The group has been known for its high-profile demonstrations and "open rescues," which have often drawn national attention – but also frequent backlash.
Prosecutors hailed the verdict as a victory, arguing that it reaffirms that activists cannot take the law into their own hands. District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said that the verdict shows that "personal beliefs don't justify breaking the law."
Rosenberg's lawyer, Chris Carraway, has vowed to appeal the jury's decision, saying that the prosecution's request for Rosenberg to be taken into custody was "disgusting" and citing her medical condition as a reason why she should not face jail time.
Despite the conviction, Rosenberg remains defiant, stating that she will never apologize for taking sick animals to get them medical care. She believes that by doing so, she has saved lives – a sentiment echoed by many of her supporters outside the courthouse.
i'm not surprised about this verdict tbh. i mean, zoë's actions did seem pretty reckless & attention-seeking 
. like, yeah, animal welfare is super important but you can't just break into a farm with your squad and expect no consequences 
. plus, the prosecution had some solid evidence that showed she was planning this whole thing for publicity purposes 
. don't get me wrong, i'm all for standing up for what you believe in, but there's a time & place to do it 
. sending zoë a mix of feelings on this one 
... I mean, I get where they're coming from on both sides - the activists think they're fighting for justice, and the prosecution thinks they're breaking the law. But at the same time, can't you just imagine being in those chickens' shoes? 
They were literally stuck in that truck, struggling to breathe... it's hard not to feel a little sympathetic towards Rosenberg.
let's just hope she can stay out of trouble long enough to get her medical treatment done.
...
. I'm all for standing up for what you believe in, especially when it comes to animals 
. And honestly, Rosenberg's actions might not have been the most conventional way of doing things, but hey, they worked! 
The fact that she's still willing to fight for her cause despite this setback is super admirable 
.
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, both for Rosenberg and for the animal rights movement as a whole 
. And those four chickens were literally living in squalor! I get that she broke the law, but was it really worth risking up to 4.5 years in jail? 
. She's not some crazy person trying to cause chaos; she's an animal lover who wants to make a difference 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to rescue sick animals from that kind of situation? 
. It's just not right, you know? 
. Rosenberg was trying to do something good for those poor chickens, and now she's gonna face serious consequences. Four and a half years in jail? That's crazy talk! I mean, I get it, they did break the law, but come on... it's not like they hurt anyone. The fact that they were motivated by conscience, not just publicity, kinda makes you wonder if we're just too harsh on people who want to make a difference 
. The prosecution's whole thing about taking the law into their own hands just feels like a load of hooey 
.
. And honestly, I think we need more people like Rosenberg who are willing to take risks for what they believe in 
. The fact that they were just trying to get these animals medical attention... it's like, what's wrong with that? 
. But at the same time, I'm curious to see how the appeal goes and what will happen next 
. Will Rosenberg get a reduced sentence? Maybe some kind of community service instead of prison time? The jury's decision was definitely interesting... let's keep an eye on this one! 
. I think it's crazy that they're charging Zoe for trying to help animals in need 
. The prosecution's case was all about publicity, but it doesn't change the fact that these chickens were living in terrible conditions and needed medical attention ASAP! 
... just saving lives is often seen as a crime when you're talking about animal rights 
. I don't think we should be punishing people for using their voice to bring attention to important issues 
.
this whole thing just blows my mind... like zoë rosenberg did what she thought was right in front of all these ppl and now she's gonna be stuck with an ankle monitor 
it seems like the system is more focused on punishing activists than addressing the real issues 
I'm really disappointed in this verdict. I think Zoe Rosenberg did something amazing by exposing the cruelty at Petaluma Poultry and saving those chickens. She didn't seem like she was trying to draw attention to herself, but rather bring awareness to a serious issue. To me, it's all about compassion and standing up for what's right, even if it means breaking the rules. 
. I'm just curious about what happened in that trial - did they have any evidence that showed she was planning it for publicity stunts, or was it more of an impulsive decision? 
The verdict is definitely a wake-up call, though - it shows us that even well-intentioned actions can have consequences. Maybe it's time for activists to think more strategically about their methods? 
. the ankle monitor thing is just soooo unfair btw...u would think they'd let her wear a cute little collar instead of a tracker 