Sunrise Farms, Petaluma Poultry, Reichardt Duck Farm

Sonoma County, California

Take Action

Call and email Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez politely asking her to drop the charges against the activists who exposed animal cruelty and rescued suffering animals.

Call: 707-565-2311

Over 100 people have been arrested at factory farms in Sonoma County for taking nonviolent direct action to help suffering animals after the government ignored repeated reports of criminal animal cruelty. In October 2018, six activists were charged with seven felonies each for two actions at factory farms which occurred in May 2018 (at Sunrise Farms) and September 2018 (at McCoy's Poultry, a supplier to Petaluma Poultry). Five of the defendants received additional charges following a third action in June 2019 (at Reichardt Duck Farm). Since then, the prosecution has dismissed all of the charges related to the action at McCoy's and a felony charge from the Sunrise action, and two of the activists, Almira and Jon, have taken plea deals. Now, four activists remain in the case. On May 30, trial was scheduled for September 8, 2023 for Cassie, Priya, and Wayne, and it is expected to take two weeks (or longer). Rachel's case is continuing to move forward separately, with her next hearing on June 27, 2023.

Meet the Defendants

Cassie King

Cassie was an English major at UC Berkeley and is the Communications Director for Direct Action Everywhere. She spends her free time writing stories, reading books, and playing with her bunnies who were both rescued from slaughter.

Priya Sawhney

Growing up in India, Priya witnessed the suffering of countless street animals. As an investigator with Direct Action Everywhere, she has seen the same kind of suffering on a systemic scale inside of factory farms.

Rachel Ziegler

Rachel moved to California to get more involved in the animal rights movement in Berkeley. She is a full-time photographer, the guardian of two rescued doves, and an activist with Direct Action Everywhere.

Wayne Hsiung

Wayne is an attorney and co-founder of the animal rights network, Direct Action Everywhere. He has been a community organizer for over 20 years.

The following people have also been arrested in Sonoma County for taking nonviolent direct action to expose animal cruelty:

Aidan Cook, Alex Santurio, Alexandra Paul, Alicia Santurio, Almira Tanner, Alyssa Landi, Amy Brown, Ana Mehl, Ariel Ryan, Balaji V., Brianna Baer, Camilla Hahn, Cheyanne Holliday, Chris Tarzan Hayward, Christina Brown, Christopher Bleichner, Conrad de Jesus, Corey Rowland, Daniela Habermehl, Dawn Michelle, Dean Wyrzykowski, Efrem Blitz, Emek Echo, Jake H., Jeyrama Robles, Jocelyn Cole, Jon Frohnmayer, Jorden Ruggles, Katt Cho, Kelly Landreth, Kevin Baker, Kristina Norris, Lance Wilson, Lauren Fluty, Lawrence Cuneaz, Leni Wasacz, Leslie Goldberg, Lewis Bernier, Linda Cridge, Lucy H., Madhu Anderson, Mandy Washburn, Marika Diaz, Marissa Garam, Mary McKee, Michael Goldberg, Michelle L., Monica Martella, Nena Salas, Nico Stubler, Nikki Symanovich, Noah Bristol, Ora Goldman, Paul Nguyen, Peter Lecki, Rachel Arima, Rev. Robert Yamada, Ronnie R., Sanjeev Deshpande, Sarah Hewson, Samantha Walsch, Sharon Claitor, Tonia Moore, Vanessa Marsot, Vero Z., Vicky Stewart, Virginia Fior