Adam Durand was the first activist in US history to be jailed for an open rescue. And his story – including one of the wildest criminal trials in animal rights history – is equal parts inspiring and haunting.

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Documentary of Wegmans Egg Farm Investigation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u99T_xb9NTs

Article: “Capturing Caged Hens on Video Brings a Charge of Burglary”

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/16/nyregion/capturing-caged-hens-on-video-brings-a-charge-of-burglary.html

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Follow Adam:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam.durand/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adam.durand

XTwitter: https://x.com/adam_durand

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@durand.adam?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adamdurand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamdurand/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@adam.durand

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The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://www.simpleheart.org!

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Chapters:

Chapter 1) 00:00 Intro, Adam’s story of Wegmans Egg Farm investigation/hen rescue, the first open rescue manual, & the grassroots activism feelings during the first open trainings/rescues in the US

Chapter 2) 19:41 Continued: Adam’s story of Wegmans Egg Farm investigation/rescue & the current state of activism

Chapter 3) 30:15 Activists’ first look inside one of many large sheds at Wegmans Egg Farm, how many hens they rescued, & tough decisions during factory farm investigations

Chapter 4) 38:18 Angie’s rescue from Wegmans Egg Farm & life at Farm Sanctuary, the other hens’ lives after the rescue from Wegmans Egg Farm

Chapter 5) 50:34 Activists’ taking hens out of the cages at Wegmans Egg Farm, & veterinarians’ reactions to hens rescued from Wegmans Egg Farm & a rescued parrot

Chapter 6) 58:42 Local animal cruelty authorities, history of US animal cruelty laws, hens in manure lagoons at Wegmans Egg Farm, how factory farms kill hens after their egg production declines

Chapter 7) 1:09:15 The documentary on Wegmans Egg Farm investigation/hen rescue is made & released to a journalist (documentary link above), journalists & editors reactions to activists’ investigation stories, the authorities’ surveillance/arrest/prosecution of activists, & public reaction of the investigation/documentary

Chapter 8) 1:21:51 Infiltrators & informants in nonviolent activism movements (“This American Life - The Turncoat” link below), Adam’s reaction to being investigated, on activist Eric McDavid’s story (link below), & the US government investigations of the Civil Rights movement

Chapter 9) 1:33:05 Adam on the grand jury after he turned himself into authorities, on prosecutors handling grand juries & defendants

Chapter 10) 1:42:03 Adam on his trial for open rescue in 2006: lawyers for activists, on judges, the pressure of testifying, on burglary charge acquittal, on trespass conviction, & on prosecutors

Chapter 11) 1:58:00 Adam on his trial for open rescue in 2006: on closing statements, on the verdict from the jury, on the judge during the sentencing hearing, on being featured on PrimeTime Live, on being illegally sentenced, & on going to/being in jail

Chapter 12) 2:07:46 Lawyers’ reaction to Adam’s sentencing hearing, & more on Adam being in jail: inmates, jobs, vegan food, treatment from guards, on Adam’s “Stay-of-Execution,” & on being released

Chapter 13) 2:16:21 Working on the appeal, on winning the appeal, re-sentenced by the same judge, a surprise vacation rental ending, & Adam’s life after jail

Chapter 14) 2:25:22 Final thoughts: lessons learned from doing open rescues

Chapter 15) 2:28:14 Outro video - Thanks for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, & Chloe Leffakis

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Other links:

“This American Life - The Turncoat”:

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/381/turncoat

Activist Eric McDavid:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_McDavid

“If a Tree Falls”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwQoi0DoOKM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_Tree_Falls