I’ve written many times previously about the efforts of Direct Action Everywhere (DXE), one of the most extreme “animal liberation” organizations out there. While generally not taken seriously by the media or key decisionmakers (restaurant/retail/foodservice brands, investors, policymakers, etc.), DXE has been successful in causing challenges for farms and processing facilities through its use of “direct action” techniques — protests, vigils, event disruptions and the like.

One of DXE’s key tactics is the use of “open rescues,” where they enter farms or plants and steal livestock or poultry. These incidents are usually livestreamed on social media or recorded to be shared later and the perpetrators are loud and proud in announcing what they’ve done. Getting caught and facing charges is another layer of the “open rescue” strategy. DXE activists want to go to court so they can make their arguments in support of “animal liberation” and “open rescue” in front of a broader audience, and hopefully someday get a court to decide in their favor, opening up additional opportunities for them to claim they have a legal right to enter farms and take animals — what they call the “right to rescue.”

DXE has conducted “open rescues” in various states over the past five or so years, and up until now activists have faced few legal consequences for those actions. That is now changing, as trials are finally happening in several states on charges related to “open rescue” events. Last week, the first such trial wrapped up in North Carolina and DXE co-founder Wayne Hsiung was found guilty on two felony changes (breaking and entering and larceny). Though he claims he wanted to serve jail time, Hsiung was sentenced to two years' probation. DXE activists are also set to face trial soon in Sonoma County, Calif. and Iowa.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance has of course been following these trials closely. Trespassing onto farms and stealing animals is not only unlawful, but it also threatens the health and safety of livestock and poultry. Farmers and ranchers should be able to do their important work to bring meat, poultry, dairy and eggs to the vast majority of consumers who choose to eat them without fear of intrusion by animal rights extremists who believe we should not be raising animals for food (regardless of how we do it) and want to take choices off of everyone's plates. It is reassuring that the jury in North Carolina quickly decided on a guilty verdict in this case and we hope to see similar outcomes in the other trials. While it is unlikely that this conviction or any others will deter the most dedicated extremists, perhaps others will think twice before engaging in these "open rescue" activities.

“Open rescue” activists finally face consequences; will it matter?

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