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UID:Indybay-18850632
SEQUENCE:19012689
CREATED:20220622T232300Z
DESCRIPTION:IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND, PLEASE REGISTER (FREE!) TO GET IMPORTANT 
 UPDATES AND INFORMATION: dxe.io/utahsignup\n---\nSupport the Right to 
 Rescue at trial!\nPlease join us for a convergence in Utah during the trial 
 of DxE investigators Wayne Hsiung and Paul Darwin Picklesimer. Wayne and 
 Paul are being prosecuted for investigating the world’s largest 
 “pork” producer, Smithfield Foods, and rescuing 2 sick piglets, Lily 
 and Lizzie. In 2017, they infiltrated a massive Smithfield farm in the Utah 
 desert, a facility that raises 1.3 million pigs for slaughter every year. 
 They filmed the conditions inside in 360 degree virtual reality footage. 
 Their footage, titled "Operation Deathstar," documented row after row of 
 mother pigs crammed inside gestation crates barely bigger than their bodies 
 and piles of dead piglets covered in their mothers' feces. The 
 investigators rescued 2 sick piglets, Lily and Lizzie, and took them to a 
 sanctuary to receive care. Then, they published the whole investigation and 
 rescue online and in the New York Times to show the world the nightmarish 
 cruelty happening inside Smithfield’s farms.\nDuring this convergence we 
 will fill the courtroom to show support for animal rescue, build community 
 with one another, and take action together to expose Smithfield’s 
 Deathstar to the world.\n---\nMore about the case:\nThe publicity from 
 DxE’s investigation was a PR disaster for Smithfield, and they retaliated 
 with the force of the US government. The month after "Operation Deathstar" 
 was published, the FBI launched a multi-state pig hunt searching for Lily 
 and Lizzie. A six-car armada of FBI agents in bulletproof vests descended 
 upon multiple animal sanctuaries and even cut off part of one pig's ear to 
 do DNA testing. The following year, the state of Utah filed felony charges 
 for 5 DxE investigators shown in "Operation Deathstar" totaling up to 60 
 years in prison for each of them. Now, as trial finally approaches, the 
 judge has ruled that "Operation Deathstar" cannot be shown to the jury 
 despite the fact that it is video evidence of the alleged "crime" and shows 
 the defendants' intent. In fact, he ruled to exclude all evidence of 
 “inhumane animal conditions” at Circle Four Farms after the prosecution 
 argued that the footage from Circle Four could arouse horror in the jury, 
 which is exactly why this footage must be seen.\nWe need an upswelling of 
 public action to compel the court to side with these brave investigators, 
 not an overseas giant that is destroying our environment, exploiting 
 workers, torturing animals, and subverting our legal system.\n---\nDirect 
 Action Everywhere (DxE) is a grassroots network of animal rights activists. 
 Through open rescue, demonstration, and disruption, we are creating a world 
 where every animal is safe, happy and free.\nDxE cultivates a welcoming and 
 supportive community. We ask that all those who attend our events (online 
 and offline) respect our Code of Conduct which can be reviewed at 
 dxe.io/conduct.\nTo learn about our vision, goals, strategy and more check 
 out the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Activist Handbook here: 
 dxe.io/handbook\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2022/06/22/18850632.php
SUMMARY:Exposing the Deathstar: Rescue Trial in the Utah Desert
LOCATION:IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND, PLEASE REGISTER (FREE!) TO GET IMPORTANT 
 UPDATES AND INFORMATION: dxe.io/utahsignup\n---\nSupport the Right to 
 Rescue at trial!\nPlease join us for a convergence in Utah during the trial 
 of DxE investigators Wayne Hsiung and Paul Darwin Picklesimer. Wayne and 
 Paul are being prosecuted for investigating the world’s largest 
 “pork” producer, Smithfield Foods, and rescuing 2 sick piglets, Lily 
 and Lizzie. In 2017, they infiltrated a massive Smithfield farm in the Utah 
 desert, a facility that raises 1.3 million pigs for slaughter every year. 
 They filmed the conditions inside in 360 degree virtual reality footage. 
 Their footage, titled "Operation Deathstar," documented row after row of 
 mother pigs crammed inside gestation crates barely bigger than their bodies 
 and piles of dead piglets covered in their mothers' feces. The 
 investigators rescued 2 sick piglets, Lily and Lizzie, and took them to a 
 sanctuary to receive care. Then, they published the whole investigation and 
 rescue online and in the New York Times to show the world the nightmarish 
 cruelty happening inside Smithfield’s farms.\nDuring this convergence we 
 will fill the courtroom to show support for animal rescue, build community 
 with one another, and take action together to expose Smithfield’s 
 Deathstar to the world.\n---\nMore about the case:\nThe publicity from 
 DxE’s investigation was a PR disaster for Smithfield, and they retaliated 
 with the force of the US government. The month after "Operation Deathstar" 
 was published, the FBI launched a multi-state pig hunt searching for Lily 
 and Lizzie. A six-car armada of FBI agents in bulletproof vests descended 
 upon multiple animal sanctuaries and even cut off part of one pig's ear to 
 do DNA testing. The following year, the state of Utah filed felony charges 
 for 5 DxE investigators shown in "Operation Deathstar" totaling up to 60 
 years in prison for each of them. Now, as trial finally approaches, the 
 judge has ruled that "Operation Deathstar" cannot be shown to the jury 
 despite the fact that it is video evidence of the alleged "crime" and shows 
 the defendants' intent. In fact, he ruled to exclude all evidence of 
 “inhumane animal conditions” at Circle Four Farms after the prosecution 
 argued that the footage from Circle Four could arouse horror in the jury, 
 which is exactly why this footage must be seen.\nWe need an upswelling of 
 public action to compel the court to side with these brave investigators, 
 not an overseas giant that is destroying our environment, exploiting 
 workers, torturing animals, and subverting our legal system.\n---\nDirect 
 Action Everywhere (DxE) is a grassroots network of animal rights activists. 
 Through open rescue, demonstration, and disruption, we are creating a world 
 where every animal is safe, happy and free.\nDxE cultivates a welcoming and 
 supportive community. We ask that all those who attend our events (online 
 and offline) respect our Code of Conduct which can be reviewed at 
 dxe.io/conduct.\nTo learn about our vision, goals, strategy and more check 
 out the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Activist Handbook here: 
 dxe.io/handbook
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2022/06/22/18850632.php
DTSTART:20220909T160000Z
DTEND:20220909T160000Z
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