An  activist from international animal rights organisation, Direction Action Everywhere, was tackled by two players during a game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.

Alex Taylor was tackled by LA Rams players Bobby Wagner and Takkarist McKinley after he ran onto the field with a pink smoke bomb. Shortly after being escorted off the field, a Fox News report said that that the activist was considering taking legal action against the players and the National Football League.

DxE took responsibility for the incident, saying that it was trying to highlight the trial of two farm whistleblowers, whose trial started on Monday. The organisation said that it was a “landmark trial” for free speech, animal rights and food justice and also “more broadly, on the entire animal agricultural industry” which it has called “abusive and exploitative.”

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What is Direct Action Everywhere?

Direct Action Everywhere is an international grassroots  network of animal rights activists. The organisation was founded in 2013 in San Francisco by a bunch of people who wanted to protest for animal rights inside restaurants as opposed to the usual protests outside. 

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Their mission statement reads:

“We will achieve revolutionary social and political change for animals in one generation.” 

DxE goes on to say that they reject the “speciesism” which involves the killing of animals in “blatant disregard” for the planet and the “unjust and oppressive institutions and ideologies” that affect both animals and humans.

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In the past, the network of activists have managed to help pass legislation, like the fur ban in Berkley and San Francisco, which eventually led to a statewide ban. Additionally, the group has send ‘investigators’ into animal farms to document the living conditions of the animals inside, which has resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the activists.