Shortly after 10:00 AM this morning deputies responded to the 3700 block of Middle Two Rock Rd at the Reichardt Duck Farm on a report of animal rights protesters staging a demonstration. Upon arrival deputies found that busloads of people associated with the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere had assembled at the farm to protest the treatment of livestock.
This group has a history of trespassing, assault and stealing animals from Petaluma area livestock farms. In addition to Sheriff’s Deputies, mutual aid was requested from the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Petaluma Police Department and the California Highway Patrol as the crowd swelled to the hundreds.
The Sheriff’s Tactical Team responded to provide crowd control throughout the daylong ordeal. Early in the incident a group of ten protesters stormed the farm in an attempt to take birds off the property. They were quickly detained and ultimately arrested. A daylong protest ensued and protesters chained themselves by the neck using metal chains, padlocks and bike locks.
At about 4:00 PM the protesters remained and demanded to be arrested. Dozens of voluntary arrests were made for trespassing. Many of the protesters had keys and released themselves in order to be arrested. The Wilmar Fire Department was summoned and was able to cut the remaining protesters’ locks leaving them free to be arrested.
In all 98 protesters were arrested, mostly for trespassing charges. They are currently being booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
