Jury returns verdict in trial of worker who took chickens from Purdue plant

A verdict has been reached in the lawsuit filed by a California animal rights activist who said she rescued four chickens from a major Purdue Farms poultry plant.

Zoe Rosenberg, 23, faces more than five years in prison if convicted on charges that include one count of felony conspiracy, one count of trespass to interfere with a business, one count of trespass to land where an animal is kept for human consumption, and one count of tampering with a vehicle.

During the seven-week trial, her defense did not deny that she had taken chickens from Petaluma Poultry in 2023, but instead focused on the justification for it. Petaluma Poultry supplies chickens to Perdue Farms, one of the United States’ largest poultry providers to major grocery chains.

Rosenberg posted his actions on social media. The 23-year-old activist from advocates’ network Direct Action Everywhere said she was rescuing Poppy, Ivy, Aster and Azalea from a cruel situation. Meanwhile, prosecutors said she engaged in illegal behavior regardless of her motivation.

lawsuit came to light Sonoma CountyWhere agriculture is a major industry. The co-founder of Direct Action Everywhere was convicted for his role in the factory farm protests in Petaluma two years ago.