Three more animal rights protesters arrested at Petaluma chicken plant

Three Berkeley residents were arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest after blocking a poultry truck.|

For the second time in two weeks, animal rights protesters were arrested early today on suspicion of resisting police officers during a delivery of chickens to Petaluma Poultry Processors off Lakeville Highway.

Three Berkeley residents - Rachel Ziegler, 24, Chai Masala Canaglia, 25, and Lewis Bernier, 18 - were arrested about 1:05 a.m. after several protesters ran into a public street near the plant as a truck arrived, said Petaluma Police Lt. Tim Lyons. Officers ordered the protesters out of the street, but Ziegler, Canaglia and Bernier stood firm, he said.

An officer feared the truck might not be able to stop in time, so he pulled Ziegler and Bernier aside, Lyons said. It was unclear how Canaglia got out of the way, but the big rig passed without anyone being injured.

A press release by the protest’s organizer, Bay Area Animal Save, suggested the truck driver might have approached the entrance too fast. Police raised no concerns about the truck’s operation, Lyons said.

The protests have been going on for a few months.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.