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Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is an investigator, a press coordinator, and an animal rights activist extraordinaire. About to go to trial in Iowa on felony charges, including under Iowa’s infamous Ag Gag statute, for rescuing a piglet, now named Gilly, from certain death, he shares with us the harrowing story of entering factory farms under conditions of ventilation shutdown during the early days of the pandemic, after being tipped off by a company truck driver that animals had been left to slowly suffocate to death. He also tells us about the philosophy and legal arguments behind the Right to Rescue that DxE activists argue render their actions in rescuing animals who are at risk of suffering and death justified under well-established law. While, in addition to Matt’s, a number of trials where this theory will be argued by the defense will be coming up in the next few months, we learn in some detail how this has played out so far under very real world circumstances with his inside look into the recent trial of Wayne Hsiung, founder of DxE, for rescuing a baby goat named Rain from a farm in North Carolina in 2018.
Matt Johnson is an investigator and Press Coordinator with DxE, a global grassroots network of animal rights activists. DxE activists have rescued hundreds of animals from slaughterhouses, laboratories, and other places of violence. Matt is personally facing felony burglary charges because of his part in saving Gilly the piglet from certain death. He has also been involved in many other animal rescues and in highlighting the plight of animals facing violence and pain.
“The genesis of the Iowa Select Farms case was not brought about by animal rights activists saying that they object to what’s happening inside of these facilities; it was somebody who sees it all day, every day and is part of this industry.”
— Matt Johnson
Highlights for Episode 626:
- Matt’s role in the May 2020 expose of Iowa Select Farms and its use of ventilation shutdown to kill thousands of pigs
- How DxE learned what was happening at Iowa Select Farms from a local truck driver for the company and how they investigated and gathered intel on the atrocity
- How Matt rescued Gilly the piglet from certain death and how she is today
- Why the police picked up Matt during a raid after the rescue, despite him offering no resistance to arrest and not being a flight risk
- Why the FBI seemed more interested in discrediting Matt than learning the specifics of why he removed Gilly from the farm
- The Ridglan Farms dog breeding and research facility case, where DxE activists rescued three beagles in 2017, and why, four years later, charges are being brought against them
- Additional strategies DxE is using to create systemic change
- Matt’s appearance on Fox Business, what inspired it, and how it played out
- Matt’s vision for the future on how animals and humans can live in harmony on our shared planet
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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today.
You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts!
Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.
The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.
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This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.
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You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts!
Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.
The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.