The Simple Heart w/ Wayne Hsiung He Rescued a Hen Dying in a Manure Pit. They Jailed Him. (with Adam Durand) (Ep. 32)
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”
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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”: