Vigil Outside Trader Joe's-Supplying Slaughterhouse following Chicken Rescuer Conviction

In 2023, UC Berkeley student and @dxeofficial.bsky.social activist @zoerosenberg.bsky.social removed four severely ill chickens from a slaughterhouse truck in Petaluma, California. Now, she’s facing over five years in prison. Seth Millstein reports:

Last week, activist @zoerosenberg.bsky.social was found guilty of trespassing and conspiracy after taking four chickens from a slaughterhouse truck in Petaluma, California. Now, she faces more than five years in prison, something @dxeofficial.bsky.social activists view as a necessary risk.

UC Berkeley student found guilty after 'rescuing' chickens from Perdue Farms www.berkeleyside.org/2025/10/30/c...

Animal rescuer Zoe Rosenberg was just found guilty of felony conspiracy and 3 misdemeanors for her rescue of four chickens from Perdue's Petaluma Poultry. Zoe was represented by Chris Carraway, of Animal Activist Legal Defense Project (@AALDP-DU.bsky.social), and attorney Kevin Little.

Excellent @sfchronicle.com story about our case, representing @zoerosenberg.bsky.social of @dxeofficial.bsky.social in the #PerdueRescueTrial. This is the power of #openrescue cases. #animalrights #animalwelfare #animalcruelty #vegan #chicken #chickens www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

To the enormous frustration and surprise of Hobson, Gnoss rules that Picklesimer’s speech didn't further any conspiracy. Paul merely spoke about actions taking place. Judge Gnoss said the prosecution's attempt to examine Picklesimer lacks foundation.” This, he said, makes the immunity issue moot.

Court starts for the day with discussions outside the presence of the jury. Picklesimer takes the stand alongside their lawyer, EmilyRose Johns. Johns points out the immunity issues that arise from the prosecution forcing Picklesimer to testify for them.

Carraway moves on to the documents Rosenberg saw inside Petaluma Poultry, specifically a tally sheet indicating birds were scalded alive. He argues the door has been opened to discuss these documents because the prosecution has strongly contested the fact that birds were scalded alive.

Court resumes. Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Matthew Hobson asks about playing video of Zoe doing a presentation with a slideshow, requesting to play audio only of her speaking and exclude the images as the slideshow contains animals like cows, otters, etc. They say the video is irrelevant

Hobson: You know the action was widely publicized? Deerbrook: I was working with The Intercept. Hobson: But by DxE? Deerbrook: I assume so.

Day 18. Court starts for the day with defense's direct examination of Raven Deerbrook. Deerbrook is sworn in and takes the stand. Little: What's your occupation and for how long? Deerbrook: Photography and Animal Cruelty Investigations for over 6 years.

Carraway raises Zoe being restricted from testifying about the photos/videos documented at Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry. He asks Judge Gnoss to reconsider. This limitation hinders her right to a fair trial. Gnoss reaffirms his ruling, stating she cannot rely on this info or be questioned about it.

Day 17: Carraway (@aaldp-du.bsky.social) speaks about being informed by Rocky Chau's attorney, he will be invoking his 5th amendment right (against self-incrimination), so there's no need on calling him to the stand anymore. Hobson insists that the prosecution still wants to put him on the stand.

Hobson introduces posts from Cabral's social media. One says "you're either an animal abuser or a vegan." The posts are 5 years old. H: You believe that? Cabral: Not anymore. When you see what's going on, you can get very upset, and it takes time to grow and learn.

Gnoss indicates that he's going to allow social media posts broadly, and they begin going through each of the posts to determine whether they'll be allowed to be shown

Hobson gets up to cross, but before starting Carraway asks for a quick sidebar. After a couple minutes Gnoss sends the jury out for a prolonged discussion.

Carraway then moves to the chickens from the rescue, who Cabral identifies as being Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea; the first time they were named to the jury.

Carraway starts by introducing what Cabral will be talking about: she was brought chickens by Zoe on the 13th, shortly after the rescue. He can't directly say they were the same chickens as those rescued, as Zoe will need to lay that foundation first, but he does imply so.

Court starts with a brief sidebar this afternoon, but soon after the defense is ready to call their first witness, Carla Cabral.

Before the jury enters, Hobson asks again to admit social media posts about not wanting slaughterhouses to exist. Gnoss says he'd like to wait until after Zoe's testimony; noting that Hobson has been given a lot of leeway already attributing DxE's statements to Zoe

Little: were you aware that Zoe made criminal animal cruelty complaints about Perdue's Petaluma Poultry to your department? Arvizo: No L: at the preliminary hearing for this case, you testified you were you aware? A: True L: At any point did you investigate any? A: I cannot respond.

That concludes the defense's opening statements. Now that both the prosecution and defense have gone, the prosecution can begin calling witnesses and supporting their case. Once they're done, the defense will do the same, and finally both sides will give closing statements.

This case, Little continues, is about the four chickens, each living creatures who can suffer. Their names are Aster, Ivy, Poppy, and Azalea. When Zoe rescued them she could see that they were suffering. That's why she specifically selected those ones.

With the prosecution opening statement done, Kevin Little begins the defense's opening statement. All the evidence in this courtroom was not the result of investigation done by law enforcement, Little begins. It wasn't meant to be concealed; Zoe was open in order to prevent criminal animal cruelty.

Finally she closes her statement - "The evidence will leave no doubt that this was not a rescue." Zoe sought to damage a lawful business. She says that the case is not about what Zoe believes, it's about what she did.

Jessalee Mills begins prosecution's opening statement. There's legal activism: protests, advocacy, ballot initiatives. But she'll show that "Zoe Rosenberg is a criminal activist" and believes her cause is so important that rule of law does not apply to her

We're back in court again today for opening statements Zoe Rosenberg - defendant Kevin Little - her attorney Chris Carraway - with the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, also representing her Prosecution: Matthew Hobson - Assistant District Attorney Jessalee Mills - Assistant District Attorney

Heading in to court soon for the final hearings before Monday’s opening statements! We’ll start posting this afternoon.

We have a jury! Judge Gnoss goes on to explain basic trial procedures to the jury, like scheduling, norms, contact information and so on. Jury will have to come back on Monday at 1:30 pm, but other court matters will be discussed outside of their presence tomorrow at 11 am.

There is no court today (Wednesday). Still no jury selected, but we're getting closer. There are 20 jurors currently in the 'box' and we have six strikes left, while the prosecution still has nine. We'll resume Thursday!

Trial ends without any jurors definitely selected as part of the jury. Voir dire will continue tomorrow, and could last through the week

My animal activism group, the Los Angeles chapter of @dxeofficial.bsky.social, got a TV segment on Spectrum News 1. Watch the video, and learn more at perdueabuse.com. #AnimalRightsActivism #PerdueTrial #TraderJoes

Little: And you took photos and videos? Deerbrook: Yes. Little: You saw large numbers of birds seen as cadavers? Did that inform your opinion as to the accuracy of the records. Deerbrook: Yes.

Little: Do any of the documents mention cadavers? What does that term mean? Deerbrook: Yes. A cadaver is essentially an animal condemned because of improper slaughtering or something happening before slaughter.

Carraway: Did you examine the birds when they were in your care? Cabral: Yes. I did “beak to cloaca” inspections. Judge Gnoss: Can you spell that - what is it? Cabral: C-L-O-A-C-A. It’s their hole in the back where everything comes out of. *courtroom chuckles*

We’re back in court today for more motions in limine and 402 hearings. We expect to hear 402 testimony from Carla Cabral regarding her possible expertise as a former vet tech and Raven Deerbrook regarding photos of documents she took in the slaughterhouse.

Perdue Rescue Trial Court Watch - Week 1: Sept 15th-19th, 2025 - www.directactioneverywhere.com/dxe-in-the-n... - @dxeofficial.bsky.social #animalCruelty

Zoe’s ankle monitor came off today!:) #PerdueTrial

Gnoss asks why MCFB records mention 6 birds and not 4. Carraway explains that Zoe's group took 4 birds and then Raven's group took others. Gnoss asks if those birds can be distinguished. Carraway confirms, saying that birds have particular colored bands on their legs.

Gnoss also notes that more specific rulings will have to come after Zoe's testimony, which the prosecution expects will open the door to bringing up past cases

The prosecution now turns to argue that they can use the rescue at Reichardt to inform Zoe's belief about the legality of her actions [whether Zoe believed her actions are legal is a component of conspiracy]

Back after lunch, and court continues going through the motions in limine - the pretrial decisions that determine how the trial will proceed. The prosecution presents Motion 16 to prevent sympathetic evidence to Zoe that might bias the jury, such as her age

***Cast of Characters*** Judge Kenneth Gnoss - JG *Defense Defendant @Zoe_Rooster of @DxEverywhere Attorney Chris Carraway of @AALDP_DU Attorney Kevin Little Co-Conspirator Raven Deerbrook *Prosecution aka 'The People' Attorney Matthew Hobson Attorney Jessalee Mills

Carraway: A search warrant was only done on Zoe and Deerbrook. This goes to the thoroughness of the investigation. I just want to recognize that there were 10 others. JG: The detective can say how many were arrested but not how many were involved.

That is all for the defenses motions in limine. Now we are on to the prosecutions. JG: The people (prosecution) request to introduce video of trespass? Carraway: We just want to see it before it is shown.

Judge Gnoss: I'm impressed by both sides thus far and would hope you continue to work together. Hobson: Is the court going to issue general pre-trial rulings? JG: I'm hoping to verify all of them unless there are objections.

Little: We want to avoid a situation in which an officer is narrating a video and giving their opinion. Judge Gnoss: Witnesses can identify others but is not to draw conclusions.

Next topic is video evidence as they pertain to potential witnesses Hobson: I've sent 3 vids to defense showing co-conspirators removing chickens and also intend to show security cam footage. We will likely have law enforcement identify Zoe on video.

Day 2 began at 11:20 PST Judge Gnoss brings up the jury questionnaire. Hobson: We're close to agreeing but there is one question regarding 'Measure J'. Defense wants to ask if they've heard of it and if they supported it.