Direct Action Everywhere extremists are finally facing consequences for years of trespassing onto farms, plants and other properties to steal livestock and poultry — or are they? While it seemed promising that trials are finally being held in various states for these incidents, DXE scored another “victory” last month when activists Alexandra Paul (former Baywatch actress) and Alicia Santurio were found not guilty of stealing two chickens from a transport truck outside of a California processing plant during a large-scale protest and attempt to shut down the plant in September 2021.

This is the second acquittal for DXE in this series of trials, following activists Wayne Hsuing and Paul Pickelsimer being found not guilty in the fall of similar charges in a Utah trial dealing with the theft of pigs. If you’re keeping score, that’s two “successful” trial outcomes for the extremists, and only one conviction (the first of these trials, in which Hsiung was found guilty of theft for taking a goat from a North Carolina Farm.

DXE is heralding the result as a win for what it calls “open rescue,” or their right to enter farms and plants to “rescue” animals whenever they deem necessary, as well as encoding an “animal bill of rights” into law. Keep in mind, by DXE’s own admission its goal is “total animal liberation” — they believe all animals being used for food (or any other purpose) are in need of “rescue.” In a March blog post, DXE “lead organizer” Almira Tanner wrote, “We’re building a movement to win what animals really need: Rose’s Law, an Animal Bill of Rights. And it’s working.” Tanner continued, “We have the momentum and we cannot stop now. 2023 will bring more open rescues, more bold actions, and more trials.”

However, the District Attorney in Merced County, California (where the recent trial was held), says not so fast. In a statement to the Fresno Bee, the DA wrote that the activists employed a “mistake of law” defense, which means “they believed it was legal to steal the animals in this instance.” She made her perspective clear, stating: “Now there should be no further mistake that this conduct is illegal and anyone who commits these acts will be prosecuted. They, and everyone who reads this, is now on notice that it is illegal to take animals from another person, farm, or place of business. Moving forward from this verdict, there should be no further mistakes or misunderstandings: if you steal animals in Merced County, regardless of your personal beliefs, you will be prosecuted for that conduct.” Personally, I’m shocked that a “mistake of law” defense was successful – DXE appoints “police liaisons” and provides trainings on what to do if you’re arrested to activists. Strange things to do if you don’t think you’re breaking the law…

My assumption is that the DA’s words will fall on (willingly) deaf ears. Farms and plants would be wise to prepare for an aggressive wave of “open rescue” incidents as DXE attempts to capitalize on the so-called “support” for its actions. The next similar trial is expected to proceed this month in Sonoma County, California. We’ll be tuned in closely for the outcome and what it will mean for animal agriculture.

Extremists score another courtroom 'victory'

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