Direct Action Everywhere (DxE): Bold & Radical Animal Extremism

A version of this article was previously published. Most of the information provided still holds true today. Western Justice is sharing to help reveal the manner in which extremist groups operate, their ties to and cooperation with other extremist groups, and the continued threat they pose to our lifestyles and livelihoods.

Origins and Ideology

Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, is one of the most active radical animal extremist groups operating today. With international cells, their movement has expanded rapidly, fueled by a cult-like following. DxE’s motto is “Animal Liberation,” and their website organizes its messaging under three stark categories: Confinement, Greed, Death. Unlike some animal rights organizations that pursue incremental reforms, DxE explicitly rejects gradualism. Their long-term vision is to criminalize the consumption of animal protein and to elect their own members into political office.

Leadership and Influential Connections

DxE’s founder, Wayne Hsiung, is a lawyer who studied at MIT before graduating from the University of Chicago Law School. His academic background includes environmental advocacy and behavioral economics, with mentorship from high-profile legal scholars such as Eric Posner and Mark Duggan. Notably, Hsiung co-authored research with Cass Sunstein—former Obama administration official and an outspoken advocate of animal rights. Sunstein, who wrote Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions, is married to Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Power’s work has intersected with international governance and environmental frameworks, such as Agenda 21 and the Habitat Agenda. These connections highlight the ideological and political networks that may amplify DxE’s influence.

Illegal Tactics and Criminal Charges

DxE employs radical tactics they call “Open Rescue,” which involve breaking into farms, stealing livestock, and staging confrontational protests. Far from promoting animal welfare, these actions often jeopardize the health and safety of animals by exposing them to deadly pathogens. For example, DxE break-ins have led to the culling of entire flocks of chickens to prevent disease outbreaks. Their record of theft includes piglets, goats, turkeys, and even backyard chickens belonging to an 8-year-old girl.

Hsiung himself has faced numerous arrests and, as of 2018, at least four felony charges for his activities. In 2021, Hsiung was found guilty of two felonies (larceny and breaking and entering) in North Carolina, and in 2023, he was convicted of one felony (conspiracy to commit trespass) and two misdemeanor trespasses. in Sonoma County, California. However, these legal consequences have not deterred either him or his organization from continuing their unlawful methods.

Targeting Small and Organic Farmers

While many animal rights groups focus their lobbying on large-scale industrial agriculture, DxE deliberately targets smaller organic farms and businesses. This reflects their uncompromising ideology that all forms of animal agriculture constitute abuse. Their stance directly threatens family farmers and sustainable producers, contradicting the perception that organic or small-scale farming is somehow exempt from activist hostility.

Manipulative Media Campaigns

DxE relies heavily on staged and heavily edited video campaigns to spread their message. One notorious example occurred in 2015, when activists broke into a Whole Foods supplier’s farm and released video footage portraying severe neglect. Subsequent investigation by the sheriff’s department found the farm to be operating within industry standards. The farmer reported that activists had spent months combing through barns to find just a few birds to misrepresent the operation. Such selective editing is emblematic of DxE’s strategy: to manufacture outrage rather than present facts.

Harassment and Public Disruptions

DxE’s confrontational style extends beyond farms into public spaces. Their tactics include:

- Disrupting political events

- Staging graphic demonstrations covered in blood or feces

- Interrupting business in grocery stores, butcher shops, and restaurants

- Harassing diners by screaming or playing audio of alleged animal suffering

- Damaging meat in retail settings

Their targets have included major retailers like Whole Foods, Costco, and Safeway, as well as small farmers, eateries, and even high-profile public figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Governor Chris Christie, Governor John Kasich, and the Dalai Lama.

Conclusion

Direct Action Everywhere represents one of the most aggressive wings of the animal rights movement. Through criminal acts, manipulative propaganda, and public harassment, they seek not reform but the total abolition of animal agriculture. Their growing network, political ambitions, and willingness to break the law make them a continuing threat to farmers, businesses, and consumers alike.

For further background on DxE, visit Activist Facts: https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/direct-action-everywhere/