California Activist Zoe Rosenberg Convicted for Stealing Four Chickens from Perdue Plant

Zoe Rosenberg, a 23-year-old animal rights activist from Berkeley and member of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), was convicted on charges including felony conspiracy, trespassing, and tampering with a vehicle for stealing four chickens from a Perdue Farms poultry plant in Sonoma County, California. The operation involved elaborate planning with disguises, fake employee uniforms, GPS tracking devices, rented vehicles, and a safe house to rescue the chickens, which Rosenberg described as sick and neglected. Despite the conviction, Rosenberg maintains she acted out of necessity to save the animals and has no remorse, emphasizing the importance of intervening against cruelty. Prosecutors and industry representatives argue that such acts are illegal and disrupt legitimate businesses, while the District Attorney stressed that personal beliefs do not justify breaking the law. Rosenberg's defense attorney criticized the prosecution for ignoring alleged animal cruelty at the facility and plans to appeal the verdict. The case highlights the ongoing tension between animal rights activism and agricultural industry legal boundaries.