Direct Action Everywhere - SF Bay Area

In February of this year, we launched FactoryFarmWatch.Org, a map and database showing over 1300 large-scale animal operations that collectively raise hundreds of millions of animals every year making California one of the largest factory farming industries in the nation.

During this campaign update call, we will discuss our recent investigations, exciting press, and more ways to take action against factory farming in California!

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WHEN: Monday, June 8th from 6pm - 7pm PT

WHERE: Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86541448310 or dxe.io/ffwcall

Ridglan Farms still has 650 beagles confined in cages at their animal testing and breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. A Merck laboratory in New York purchased and received beagles from Ridglan as recently as April. We will be protesting at their West Coast headquarters to demand they release those dogs to rescues and sever all ties to Ridglan.

Please join us for this nonviolent demonstration.

WHEN: Friday, June 12 at 3:00 pm
WHERE: Merck Research Laboratories: 213 E Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA 94080
WHO: Everyone is welcome!

Flock Safety is an AI surveillance company that has cameras all over our cities collecting vast amounts of data about our cars and movement patterns. Mass surveillance is the opposite of public safety, makes it easier for police to target people such as activists or vulnerable immigrants. At this week’s Meetup we will hear from Mike Katz-Lacabe, co-founder of the Center for Human Rights and Privacy about what flock is and what we can do about it!

Learn more about their important work here: www.cehrp.org

Fresh coffee, tea, and a delicious plant-based brunch will be provided at the Meetup as well!

Where: Berkeley Animal Rights Center West (2414 6th St, Berkeley)
When: Saturday, June 6th 11am-12:30pm
What: Community hangout and presentation

- ARC West is a 30 minute walk from North Berkeley BART and only a 10 minute walk from the 51B bus stop at University and 6th St.

- Dogs that like other dogs are welcome at this event!

- There will be plant-based brunch and coffee, donations accepted

- If you cannot join in person, you can join at 11:15am on Zoom at this link: dxe.io/meetupzoom

DxE drone investigators documented extreme animal abuse at Agresti Calf Ranch and the only action taken was Agresti firing the employee. This is not the solution. We know Agresti’s inability to properly train its workers is the real culprit (aside from animal exploitation in general) and California penal code 599b states that corporations must be held accountable for animal cruelty from any employee. Specifically, it states that when “unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused or permitted; and the words “owner” and “person” include corporations as well as individuals; and the knowledge and acts of any agent of, or person employed by, a corporation in regard to animals transported, owned, or employed by, or in the custody of, the corporation, MUST be held to be the act and knowledge of the corporation as well as the agent or employee.” Agresti Calf Ranch must be held accountable for the animal cruelty they’re inflicting on calves. So we’re calling on the Stanislaus County District Attorney to file criminal animal cruelty charges against Agresti Calf Ranch!

Please join us for this nonviolent protest. We’ll brief at Courthouse Plaza, 1100 I St, Modesto, CA at 11am before heading to the DA’s office.

WHEN: 11am, Wednesday June 3rd

WHERE: 1100 I St, Modesto, CA

WEAR: Whatever you like. Business casual could be great but not fully necessary.

WHO: Everyone is welcome! However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19.

ACCESSIBILITY: There will be some standing and walking. We’ll have a couple chairs on hand in case anyone needs to rest.

Pigeon First Aid & Companion Animal Care

Sunday, June 14th | 11am–2pm
📍 Meet at the Powell Street BART Station, San Francisco

Ever wanted to be a hero to pigeons and their animal neighbors—all in one afternoon? Join us for a hands-on day of compassion, learning, and real impact in the heart of SF.

San Francisco’s pigeons often suffer from painful injuries caused by string, hair, and other debris tightly wrapped around their toes. These tiny hazards can lead to serious infections and even amputations. Together, we’ll gently rescue injured pigeons, remove the harmful materials, provide basic first aid, and release them safely back to their flocks.

While we’re out on the streets, we’ll also be sharing food and toys for companion animals belonging to our unhoused neighbors—because care and kindness should extend to all animals, big and small.

✨ No experience necessary! We’ll provide all the training and supplies you’ll need. Just bring:

Compassion
Comfortable shoes
A willingness to help animals who are often overlooked

⏰ ARRIVE ON TIME! We’ll begin promptly at 11am with a brief about essential safety and training. If you arrive late, we will be out and about and hard to contact and find so please be on time.
📍 Meeting location: Powell Street BART Station
💌 Questions? Contact Carla at [email protected]

🎥 Learn more about pigeon first aid: https://dxe.io/pigeonfirstaid

Come learn a unique skill, meet kindhearted people, and help make San Francisco a safer place for pigeons and companion animals alike.

Join us for a screening of Okja, an exciting, inspiring, and emotional movie with about a girl who risks everything to stop an giant multinational corporation from kidnapping and exploiting her best friend - an animal named Okja. The movie has strong animal liberation themes and messaging, too!

We will be providing popcorn, pizza and non alcoholic beverages

7:00pm Doors open and we start getting ready with our snacks !! Please come hungry
7:30pm Movie starts
9:30pm Movie ends

Factory farms thrive in secrecy. Join us this Saturday for a day of coordinated factory farm surveillance to expose animal cruelty and supply chain information from public property. The more people we have at a time, the more intel we can gather. For example, by having people at dairy farms and milk processing plants at the same time, we can efficiently document where milk from a certain farm is going.

We’ll meet up in a central location (Target parking lot at 3000 Countryside Dr, Turlock, CA 95380) and go through a briefing covering instructions and safety protocols. Then, we’ll send people out in pairs to each factory farm location. If you come alone, we will help pair you up with someone. We’ll need a car for each pair so bring a car if you can.

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WHEN: Saturday, May 30th at 10am
WHERE: Target parking lot at 3000 Countryside Dr, Turlock, CA 95380
WHO: Everyone is welcome who believes in justice for animals. However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19.
ACCESSIBILITY: This event will involve sitting in a vehicle for extended periods.

Right now the most vulnerable individuals are being exploited on a massive scale and it will only get worse if we don’t take action now. But can we as ordinary people really make a difference to help them? The answer is YES.

In this workshop, we’ll share the fundamental DNA of DxE - our story, strategy, structure, and culture - and give you tools and information you need to join our network and take action for animals. Get inspired by past social movements, dive into our plan to enact an Animal Bill of Rights, empower yourself to push your boundaries, and meet like-minded people.

Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a veteran activist or new to animal rights. If you’re interested in becoming a chapter member, this workshop is required. Sign up to be a chapter member at dxe.io/apply.

We held a vigil for the animals suffering at Agresti Calf Ranch, a calf raising operation that is part of Double D Dairies which supplies to Clover Sonoma.
DxE’s recent investigation of Double D captured footage of calves being kicked in the face, yanked by their tails, and burned. Act of cruelty like these are common in the industry because animals are treated like cogs in a profit-making machine. The entire dairy industry is predicated on animal suffering, exploitation, and death.
This cruelty was reported to Clover and to authorities yet no action was taken. Only after the LA Times reached out did Clover state they were suspending operations with Double D, yet they are still prominently featured on their website and the suspension is already lifted.

📸 photos by

This week was the preliminary hearing in the Meyenberg Rescue case, where four activists are facing felony charges and years in prison for rescuing two sick baby goats from a Whole Foods–supplying dairy in California’s Central Valley. It’s called Vera Goat Dairy and it confines thousands of goats and supplies milk to Meyenberg, the nation’s largest goat milk producer.

The prosecution called three witnesses, all officers from the Kings County Sheriff’s Office who admitted they never investigated the animal cruelty, despite being told about dead and suffering goats on site.

Another shocking moment came when Sergeant Fausnett confirmed under oath that he told another officer who arrested rescuers that day to “make sure it’s a fu***ng felony.” He then asked if the officer’s body camera was recording, and it was promptly muted.

Animal rescuers are up against a powerful industry and clearly biased law enforcement, but compassion and truth have prevailed before. In previous open rescue trials, we’ve seen juries fully acquit rescuers, massive wins in the court of public opinion, and most recently, an appellate victory that reversed convictions in Sonoma County. Animal rights is certainly an evolving area of law, and open rescue trials are a critical part of that evolution.