SANTA ROSA, Calif. — The animal rights organization Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) has taken a stand against poultry giant Perdue Foods by filing a motion to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at curbing public protests outside the home of Perdue’s Director of Operations. The protests were organized following the group’s recent rescue of four chickens from a facility associated with Perdue.
According to a recent announcement from DxE, the company has initiated a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) targeting the group in connection with demonstrations held outside the residence of Jason Arnold, a Perdue executive in charge of operations at the Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse.
In its defense, DxE filed an anti-SLAPP motion, maintaining that local laws allow for protests in residential areas like Santa Rosa. The organization argues that Perdue’s request for an injunction to prohibit demonstrations—along with additional requests that include barring DxE from sharing images of Arnold—are unwarranted and infringe on their rights.
Perdue’s lawsuit alleges that DxE activists have persistently contacted Arnold and other executives to discuss claims of severe treatment of animals at the Petaluma facility. DxE asserts that these actions are rooted in the group’s mission to expose what they describe as inhumane conditions and animal cruelty, including dangerously high pathogen levels that they argue have not been addressed.
The group’s visibility has surged following an incident involving activist Zoe Rosenberg, who garnered significant attention online after rescuing the distressed birds. Rosenberg’s attorney stated that Perdue profits from the suffering of countless birds, and now, the company is allegedly deploying a vast legal team to stifle peaceful protests.
In response to the legal action, DxE contends that the maneuver is a common tactic used by corporations to overwhelm activists with legal challenges, thereby discouraging them from engaging in dissent. Attorney Kyla Dayton, representing DxE, emphasized that the lawsuit undermines the purpose of anti-SLAPP laws, which aim to protect free speech and protest rights against powerful entities.
DXE highlighted that their protests are part of an ongoing campaign; the group has demonstrated outside Petaluma Poultry many times since 2018 and claims to have reported instances of animal cruelty to law enforcement, efforts that have allegedly gone unacknowledged.
Investigations by DxE have purportedly revealed critical breaches in animal welfare regulations at the Petaluma facilities, including claims that birds are subjected to extreme suffering, with reports of some being boiled alive while conscious. The organization alleges that these incidents violate California laws that prohibit unnecessary cruelty to animals.
A court hearing regarding Perdue’s lawsuit is scheduled to occur at the Sonoma County Superior Court on August 20, 2025.
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