Direct Action Everywhere - SF Bay Area

10/13/2026

CHAPTER MEMBER OF THE WEEK: Koko

Koko has been involved with DxE since 2024. He helps cater our Saturday morning Meetups and ensures everyone is cared for by making sure that those with dietary needs have options. Koko has really been stepping up over the last few months by attending protests, animal care events, and community events. At our latest Pigeon Destringing event, Koko was one of the rescuers who provided immediate care to a pigeon in need. Here’s some more about Koko

When did you become an activist and why?
I kind of always have memories of activism because the gaggle of le****ns that raised me was big into q***r rights related stuff. But if we’re talking animal liberation specifically, I started becoming more seriously and consistently involved around the end of 2024 - though I’d engaged with the movement long before that. As for why, I became an activist because I’m angry, honestly. Anger is demonized and pathologized far too often - treated as a purely maladaptive and destructive response. But, this ignores the emotion’s constructive side. Anger tells you that something is wrong, really wrong, so wrong that it burns at your soul. Sometimes, in order for things to change, you need to get furious, and I have a lot to be furious about.

What is the hardest thing for you about being an activist?
This definitely isn’t just unique to animal liberation related activism, but I really struggle with the puzzle of how to instill a sense of empathy and compassion in others. Like, forget getting into the specifics of my particular moral philosophies, making people to care AT ALL about animals (or some other oppressed/marginalized group) is hard enough. It can feel really demoralizing when the objective is something so basic, and you’re still treated as some kind of extremist.

What is one goal you are currently working on?
I’m studying Portuguese every day so that, eventually, I can be fluent in it. That way, my spouse and I can yap even more than we already do!
Estou estudando português todos os dias para que, eventualmente, eu consiga falar fluentemente. Assim, mi espose e eu poderemos bater papo ainda mais do que já fazemos!

10/12/2026

As a student at UC Berkeley, DxE organizer Zoe Rosenberg designed her own major on social movement strategy. For her senior thesis, she did an analysis on the repression of the animal rights movement between the years 1990 and 2010. At this meetup, she will be presenting her thesis.

This is the abstract of her thesis:
The animal rights movement faced brutal government repression in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Anti-terrorism legislation was passed to criminalize nonviolent animal rights activists as terrorists. This all culminated in 2006 when several activists against animal testing were convicted as terrorists and sentenced to serve years in prison. Ultimately, this repression led to a sharp decrease in direct action activity in the United States. Existing literature has memorialized the history of these years but no existing literature adequately addresses why this repression was so successful in quieting direct action. Social movement theories propose that repression can fuel mobilization, but perhaps only in certain circumstances or when the movement responds appropriately. To conduct this research, I collected qualitative data through in depth interviews with activists. I have applied theories that address how repression interacts with mobilization in a social movement context. I propose that there are five primary causes of repression’s success in quieting the animal rights movement: lack of insurgent consciousness, the intensity and forms of repression, the broader political context post-9/11, insufficient innovation, and, perhaps most significantly, the movement’s shift towards more moderate and professional forms of organizing.

10/09/2026

In honor of the 8 year anniversairy of Rose’s rescue and the launch of Rose’s Law: Animal Bill of Rights, activists held a vigil at two factory farms; Valadao Dairy and Grimmius calf raising operation. We will never stop fighting untiol every animal is safe, happy, and free!

10/05/2026

In just the last few weeks several investigations of factory farms in California have been released. Investigators have expose suffering and cruelty at facilities such as 140 Cattle, Madera, Philip Verwey, Foster Farms, and Valadao Dairy.

At this week’s meetup we will hear from the Factory Farm Watch team about their experiences, the importance of this work for animal liberation, and how you can get involved!

10/05/2026

Sign the petition at dxe.io/adoptdontshop

10/01/2026

March to Abolish Animal Testing in the Bay Area! In solidarity with the
March to Abolish Animal Testing ending at Marshall BioResources in New York we held a march and protest. We protested Novartis Lab, which has tested on beagles, cats, sheep, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs and more and we want them to commit to never testing on any animals!

09/30/2026

We have a historic opportunity right now to bring real change to the tens of thousands of dogs and cats being experimented on in laboratories across the United States.

Congress has just introduced the COMPACT Act (Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing Act) to end federal support for dog and cat experiments. It would even re-home many of the animals currently living in laboratory cages. However, there is not much time to get this passed before the end of the year. We need to make our voices heard so our government knows that their constituents want this bill to be prioritized.

Join us in marching through the streets of San Francisco to advocate for our four-legged friends, raise awareness, and show our congresspeople where we stand. Everyone is welcome and please invite your friends!

WHEN: Saturday, October 24 at 2pm
WHERE: UN Plaza, San Francisco

09/30/2026

MEETING LOCATION - Street level in front of the bank ATM. There is a HUGE flock of pigeons there. Exact coordinates are: 37.784545,-122.408296

Join us in San Francisco for a unique, hands-on experience where you’ll learn how to rescue injured pigeons, provide life-changing first aid, and support companion animals living alongside our unhoused neighbors.

Every day, pigeons in San Francisco suffer from a hidden danger: string, fishing line, hair, and other debris that wrap tightly around their toes and feet, causing immense pain, infections, and sometimes the loss of entire limbs. During this event, we’ll teach you how to safely spot, catch, and help these incredible birds before releasing them back to their families and flocks.

We’ll also be carrying food and toys to share with companion animals belonging to our unhoused neighbors because compassion doesn’t stop with one species. This event is about building a kinder city for all animals.

09/30/2026

Please join us for a vigil to bear witness to animal cruelty and to honor Rose’s Law Animal Bill of Rights on the 8th anniversary of Rose’s rescue. Rose’s Law is our long-term goal to finally grant animals five basic rights that we all deserve:
The right to be free - not owned - or to have a guardian acting in their best interest.
The right to not be exploited, abused, or killed by humans.
The right to have their interests represented in court and protected by the law.
The right to a protected home, habitat, or ecosystem.
The right to be rescued from situations of distress and exploitation.

We’ll have music and speakouts and we’re giving the meeting location only to people who plan to attend in person, so to get the address please contact [email protected]

WHEN: Saturday, October 3rd, Noon
WHERE: In the central valley but we’re not releasing the specific location as in the past operations have prepared for us to be there, including spraying manure on us. Contact [email protected] for the location.
WEAR: Whatever you like
WHO: Everyone is welcome. However, please do not come if you have or recently had symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19.
ACCESSIBILITY: This event will involve standing for extended periods. We will have a few chairs on hand for anyone who needs to rest.

09/29/2026