The long-anticipated trial of animal rights activist Zoe Rosenberg is finally starting in Sonoma County, California, and UnchainedTV is the only news organization providing live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of this historic criminal case. With the potential to reshape how animal rescues are viewed under the law, this case has galvanized activists, legal scholars, and the general public alike. And now, all eyes are on the courtroom. At the heart of the case are 4 rescued chickens named Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea.

Zoe Rosenberg, an animal cruelty investigator affiliated with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), faces one felony conspiracy charge and three misdemeanors, including two counts of trespass and one count of vehicle tampering. The charges stem from a 2023 open rescue in which Rosenberg removed those four chickens - whom she said were very sick and suffering - from Petaluma Poultry, a Perdue-owned factory farm in Northern California. She and her legal team argue the rescue was a direct response to ongoing, unaddressed, systemic animal cruelty she says violate animal cruelty laws. The case has gotten coverage in the New York Times, which reported, “Ms. Rosenberg, 23, says that she found chickens at Petaluma Poultry covered in scratches and bruises, including some with high fevers and serious infections. There was also evidence, she said, that birds were being scalded alive, instead of killed before boiling, because the slaughter lines were moving too quickly.” The company denies those allegations and has called DXE an “extreme group” with a “radical agenda.” UnchainedTV invites the Perdue and Petaluma Poultry on to respond further at any time.

UnchainedTV’s Jane Velez-Mitchell will anchor live coverage from the network’s studio, with reporter Johnny Mora at the courthouse, plus a panel of attorneys and experts who will provide real-time commentary and context as the proceedings unfold. Among the expert commentators are Shaka Smith, a respected attorney and legal analyst; Christina Ku, known for her work in animal law; and Justine Block, who brings a sharp lens to matters of civil disobedience and justice. Adding a powerful emotional and ethical perspective is Renee King-Sonnen, a former cattle rancher who transformed her property into a sanctuary for farmed animals, plus former law enforcement investigator Tiffany Brunelli. Their combined expertise will ensure UnchainedTV viewers understand every critical development, motion, and courtroom twist. Could this case set a legal precedent for future animal rescues? Just one of the questions swirling around the trial.

Adding to the drama is Rosenberg’s recent hospitalization related to her lifelong struggle with Type 1 diabetes. As day one of the trial begins today, questions remain about whether she will be well enough to appear in court. Still, her legal team is expected to move forward vigorously.

Rosenberg’s legal team, which includes Chris Carraway of the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project and California-based attorney Kevin Little, is expected to mount a defense rooted in Rosenberg’s belief that her actions were both necessary and legal. As legal arguments unfold, broader questions emerge: Can factory farming practices be put on trial through the actions of a single rescuer? Will the public and jury see Rosenberg as a criminal—or a heroic whistleblower?

With emotional stakes running high, passionate support from fellow activists, and legal arguments that could ripple far beyond this one case, the trial of Zoe Rosenberg is shaping up to be a landmark moment in the animal rights movement. And thanks to UnchainedTV’s team-led coverage, audiences around the world can witness history in the making.

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