Protect The Harvest | Utah Jury Acquits Animal Extremists of Felony Charges

By Jaclyn Krymowski for Protect The Harvest

Two members – Wayne Hsiung and Paul Picklesime – of the problematic animal extremist group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) were acquitted by a jury in Utah after a weeklong, highly publicized trial. They were acquitted despite the fact that they trespassed onto Circle Four Farm in Milford, Utah, and stole a pair of piglets. This unfortunate win will likely embolden the current membership and like-minded “direct action” extremist groups (such as the Animal Liberation Front) to continue their illegal activities. Even in the full view of the public eye, animal extremists are getting away with crimes under the guise of “open rescue.”

Dangerous Precedent

Not only did Hsiung and Picklesime get away with the robbery, but this ruling sets a very dangerous precedent. Under the facade of “open rescue,” these groups strive to be above the law and sway public opinion in their favor by blatant deception. The ruling sends a message to other animal extremists that it is okay to do the same even though trespassing and theft are crimes in every sense of the word.

When the trial was finished, extremists even went so far as to light celebratory smoke bombs.