Feature Archives
Tue Feb 19 2019 (Updated 02/21/19)
Costco Egg Supplier Seeks to Bankrupt Animal Investigators
On January 31, dozens of activists with the animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) put up “Caution” and “Danger” tape across the San Francisco Costco meat department in a protest of alleged animal cruelty and biohazard risk inside Costco farms. The activists were also protesting the criminal prosecution of two activists who exposed animal cruelty at Costco egg supplier Pleasant Valley Farms in 2016 and now face a massive restitution penalty. One of those activists, Paul Picklesimer, said, “If Costco truly cared about animals, they would thank us for exposing cruelty at one of their suppliers.”
Sat Nov 3 2018
Liberation of Sick and Dying Birds Leads to Felony Charges
Despite a court-imposed restraining order, a week of protests animal rights activists dubbed "Occupy Whole Foods" proceeded as planned on September 23-29. On the final day, a mass vigil and sit-in was held inside an industrial shed at McCoy’s Poultry factory farm in Petaluma which supplies chicken to Amazon Fresh. Activists set up an emergency medical care tent and gave aid to the sick and starving animals they liberated. Fifty-eight people were arrested. On November 2, four of them were arraigned on a total of seven felony charges each.
Sat Nov 3 2018
Halloween March for Animal Rights
Over 200 activists with the grassroots animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), many wearing glowing paper animal masks, stopped traffic for more than 15 minutes at the busy intersection of Geary and Powell Streets in downtown San Francisco on October 27, chanting their message to raise awareness of the 150 million animals killed and used for food each year in San Francisco alone. DxE says the action was meant to bring the animals’ voices back to life, amplifying their cries for all of San Francisco to hear.
Tue Sep 25 2018 (Updated 11/03/18)
Whole Foods Leans on Court to Suppress Protests
Direct Action Everywhere and co-founder Wayne Hsiung, along with dozens of unnamed individuals, are forbidden from stepping on Whole Foods property in Berkeley. On September 21, the Alameda County Superior Court granted a restraining order seeking to stop protests against the company. Whole Foods had sought to ban protests on its property throughout the entire state. Despite the court ruling, "Occupy Whole Foods" is proceeding as planned September 23-29.
Sat Aug 11 2018
Petaluma Whole Foods Factory Farm Defended by Riot Police
Responding to undercover video footage of cruelty, activists with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) marched to a Petaluma factory farm which supplies eggs to Whole Foods on July 30. Over twenty police officers and Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies were present to deny protesters access to the facility. Activists then marched five miles to the Petaluma Whole Foods location, which sells the farm’s eggs bearing misleading animal welfare labeling.
Wed May 30 2018
Hundreds Rally in Effort to Save Chickens from Sunrise Farms
Approximately 500 animal rights activists organized by the Direct Action Everywhere network staged a non-violent vigil in defense of caged and tortured chickens on May 29. The group was attempting a rescue operation at Sunrise Farms, an industrial egg facility in Petaluma. Thirty-nine people were arrested by local law enforcement after they attempted to enter the farm to document conditions and demand the transfer of sick or mistreated birds.
Sat Aug 19 2017 (Updated 08/21/17)
Court Rules Monterey County's Federal Animal-killing Contract Violates Law
The California Superior Court has ruled that Monterey County’s contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program to kill predators and other native wildlife violates state law. The decision responds to a lawsuit filed by animal protection and conservation organizations. The court concluded that Monterey County violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by failing to analyze the environmental impacts before renewing the controversial program, which has shot, trapped and snared thousands of animals in the county in recent years.