Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail in Chicken Theft Case | KQED

"Over the course of her six-week trial, Rosenberg's defense argued that her unlawful actions were justified given the conditions of the chickens. The prosecution, in turn, argued that Rosenberg's evidence was flimsy and that the theft was a felony that went beyond animal welfare. Ultimately, the jury agreed with the prosecution. Many Sonoma County ranchers and farmers have called Direct Action Everywhere "extremist" and condemned its tactics as dangerous and unlawful."

""For years, DxE has harassed farm families and workers, trespassed on private property, and stolen from local businesses," Dayna Ghirardelli, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, said in the trial's aftermath. "Our community has consistently rejected their extreme tactics, and this verdict reinforces that.""

"Rosenberg's TikTok posts about her case drew millions of views, and the trial garnered attention from high-profile activists, including actor Joaquin Phoenix, who rebuked the verdict and urged the Sonoma County district attorney to investigate allegations of animal cruelty at Petaluma Poultry. "When individuals step in to save a life because the system has looked the other way, they should be supported - not prosecuted," he said in a statement. "We have to decide who we are as a society: one that protects the vulnerable, or one that punishes those who try.""

Rosenberg faced a six-week trial in which her defense said unlawful actions were justified by the chickens' conditions. The prosecution argued that evidence was flimsy and that the theft constituted a felony that went beyond animal welfare protections. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution and convicted Rosenberg. Many Sonoma County ranchers and farmers labeled Direct Action Everywhere extremist and condemned its tactics as dangerous and unlawful. Local farm leaders accused DxE of harassment, trespass and theft. Rosenberg's TikTok posts drew millions of views, and prominent activists criticized the verdict and urged further investigation into alleged cruelty.

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