Taking Risks for Animals: Zoe Rosenberg on nonviolent direct action, open rescue, and the criminalization of compassion

Photo credit, Zoe Rosenberg, Instagram @ZoeRooster

In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, we speak with animal rights activist Zoe Rosenberg about nonviolent direct action, open rescue, and the personal costs of standing up for animals. A recent graduate of UC Berkeley, where she designed her own major in social movement strategy, Zoe brings both practical experience and thoughtful analysis to the challenges facing today's animal rights movement. She shares her experience rescuing chickens from Perdue's Petaluma Poultry facilities, the legal consequences that followed—including a felony conviction, house arrest, and time in solitary confinement—and why those experiences only deepened her commitment to nonviolence.

The conversation explores the history of repression in the animal rights movement, the ongoing campaign to rescue beagles from Ridglan Farms, and the power of principled action to expose hidden suffering and inspire change. Through stories of courage, compassion, and solidarity, Zoe offers a compelling vision of what it means to extend our circle of care to all living beings and to build movements capable of transforming both hearts and institutions.