A protest at a Foster Farms poultry plant in Livingston, California, led to the arrest of 11 people.
The protest occurred on September 28, with the protesters being affiliated with animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). The protest occurred in tandem with the release of an undercover video filmed at the Livingston plant, which DxE describes as showing “chickens routinely being improperly slaughtered.” The video is age-restricted.
According to a report from Fox 40, more than 100 activists showed up for the protest, with some chaining themselves together on top of a moving truck and blocking traffic.
On its Facebook page, DxE posted pictures of the 11 who were arrested, adding that each were being held under a $50,000 bond. They are being charged with trespass and resisting arrest. The animal rights group on its Facebook page also showed footage of two people apparently stealing live chickens from a truck that was headed toward the plant, and putting them into a car. DxE identified those two people as Alicia Santurio and Alexandra Paul, however, neither of those two were pictured among those arrested. Paul is an actress, known most for her roles in 1990s television shows "Baywatch" and "Melrose Place."
In a related protest, DxE members descended on the home of California Gov. Gavin Newsom as part of the animal rights group’s “No More Factory Farms” campaign. Alleging what the organization refers to as factory farms having negative impacts on animals, the environment and its workers, the campaign calls on Newsom to issue an executive order enacting a moratorium on the construction of such agrifood facilities.
DxE has gained national attention in recent months, with one member Matt Johnson tricking Fox Business into thinking he was the CEO of Smithfield Foods and fooling Newsmax into thinking he was the CEO of Tyson Foods.
DxE recently lost a court battle with California turkey producer Diestel Family Ranch. DxE alleged that Diestel falsely advertised its animal welfare initiatives, but a judge ruled that Diestel truly does put a focus on bird welfare.
