Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
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.
—
Documentary of Wegmans Egg Farm Investigation:
youtube.com/watch?v=u99T_xb9NTs
Articles:
Capturing Caged Hens on Video Brings a Charge of Burglary
nytimes.com/2006/03/16/nyregion/capturing-caged-hens-on-video-brings-a-charge-of-burglary.html
The Largest Organic Poultry Producer in the Nation is a Sham (Part 1):
blog.simpleheart.org/p/the-largest-organic-poultry-producer
The Largest Organic Poultry Producer in the Nation is a Sham (Part 2 + Podcast):
blog.simpleheart.org/p/the-largest-organic-poultry-producer-67a
Why California Wants You To Believe This Bird Does Not Exist:
blog.simpleheart.org/p/why-california-wants-you-to-believe
—
Follow Adam:
Instagram: instagram.com/adam.durand
Facebook: facebook.com/adam.durand
XTwitter: https://x.com/adam_durand
TikTok: tiktok.com/@durand.adam?lang=en
YouTube: youtube.com/@adamdurand
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamdurand
Threads: threads.net/@adam.durand
—
The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://www.simpleheart.org!
—
Chapters:
Chapter 1) 00:00-19:40 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 United States
Chapter 2) 19:41-30:14 Continued: Adam’s story of Wegmans Egg Farm investigation/rescue & the current state of activism
Chapter 3) 30:15-38:17 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) 38:18-50:33 Angie’s rescue from Wegmans Egg Farm & life at Farm Sanctuary, the other hens’ lives after the rescue from Wegmans Egg Farm
Chapter 5) 50:34-58:41 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) 58:42-1:09:14 Local animal cruelty authorities, the 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) 1:09:15-1:21:50 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) 1:21:51-1:33:04 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) 1:33:05-1:42:02 Adam on the grand jury after he turned himself into the authorities, on prosecutors handling grand juries & defendants
Chapter 10) 1:42:03-1:57:59 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) 1:58:00-2:07:45 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) 2:07:46-2:16:20 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) 2:16:21-2:25:21 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) 2:25:22-2:28:13 Final thoughts: lessons learned from doing open rescues
Chapter 15) 2:28:14-2:28:30 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, & Chloe Leffakis
—
Other links:
“This American Life - The Turncoat” (documentary):
thisamericanlife.org/381/turncoat
Activist Eric McDavid:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_McDavid
“If a Tree Falls” (documentary with Daniel McGowan):
youtube.com/watch?v=qwQoi0DoOKM
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_Tree_Falls
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.
—
Documentary of Wegmans Egg Farm Investigation:
youtube.com/watch?v=u99T_xb9NTs
Articles:
Capturing Caged Hens on Video Brings a Charge of Burglary
nytimes.com/2006/03/16/nyregion/capturing-caged-hens-on-video-brings-a-charge-of-burglary.html
The Largest Organic Poultry Producer in the Nation is a Sham (Part 1):
blog.simpleheart.org/p/the-largest-organic-poultry-producer
The Largest Organic Poultry Producer in the Nation is a Sham (Part 2 + Podcast):
blog.simpleheart.org/p/the-largest-organic-poultry-producer-67a
Why California Wants You To Believe This Bird Does Not Exist:
blog.simpleheart.org/p/why-california-wants-you-to-believe
—
Follow Adam:
Instagram: instagram.com/adam.durand
Facebook: facebook.com/adam.durand
XTwitter: https://x.com/adam_durand
TikTok: tiktok.com/@durand.adam?lang=en
YouTube: youtube.com/@adamdurand
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamdurand
Threads: threads.net/@adam.durand
—
The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://www.simpleheart.org!
—
Chapters:
Chapter 1) 00:00-19:40 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 United States
Chapter 2) 19:41-30:14 Continued: Adam’s story of Wegmans Egg Farm investigation/rescue & the current state of activism
Chapter 3) 30:15-38:17 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) 38:18-50:33 Angie’s rescue from Wegmans Egg Farm & life at Farm Sanctuary, the other hens’ lives after the rescue from Wegmans Egg Farm
Chapter 5) 50:34-58:41 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) 58:42-1:09:14 Local animal cruelty authorities, the 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) 1:09:15-1:21:50 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) 1:21:51-1:33:04 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) 1:33:05-1:42:02 Adam on the grand jury after he turned himself into the authorities, on prosecutors handling grand juries & defendants
Chapter 10) 1:42:03-1:57:59 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) 1:58:00-2:07:45 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) 2:07:46-2:16:20 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) 2:16:21-2:25:21 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) 2:25:22-2:28:13 Final thoughts: lessons learned from doing open rescues
Chapter 15) 2:28:14-2:28:30 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, & Chloe Leffakis
—
Other links:
“This American Life - The Turncoat” (documentary):
thisamericanlife.org/381/turncoat
Activist Eric McDavid:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_McDavid
“If a Tree Falls” (documentary with Daniel McGowan):
youtube.com/watch?v=qwQoi0DoOKM
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_Tree_Falls
