40 Activists Arrested At Egg Farm Protest In North Bay

PETALUMA, CA – Forty demonstrators were arrested today at an animal-rights protest that drew roughly 200 activists to an egg farm in the North Bay, according to officials.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office was called at 12 p.m. for a report of trespassers at Sunrise Farms on the 300 block of Liberty Road in Petaluma, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

While "it was reported that the animal rights activists had stormed the property, broken doors to chicken coops and removed chickens," Crum said, responding deputies "were met by approximately 200 people setting up a coordinated protest."

The demonstrators wanted to be allowed access to the property and to videotape "what they perceived to be sick or improperly cared for chickens," Crum said.

While the egg farm management agreed to let a protester inside to view the chickens, negotiations broke down as the demonstrators wanted 20 people allowed in, along with video cameras, and to be able to remove any birds they felt were sick or injured, Crum said.

After three hours of talks, "organizers felt they wanted to advance their cause and publicity by getting arrested," according to Crum. "They cooperatively worked with deputies, advising they had 40 people who predetermined that they were going to be arrested. The 40 protesters worked cooperatively with deputies and advanced onto the farm property and were all arrested without incident for trespassing."

They were transported by bus to the Sonoma County Jail where they were to be booked and released on citations to appear in court.

Deputies worked with the organizers and took a report to forward to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which regulates commercial chicken farms, Crum said.

ALSO SEE: Summer Fun Activity Guide: SF Bay Area 2018

--Renee Schiavone image