Hi John,

It’s been 5 days since Zoe was taken into jail, and while she is locked up in solitary confinement, something important is happening outside the jail walls.

This weekend, hundreds of people took to the streets across the U.S. to demand that CA Governor Gavin Newsom pardon Zoe and end her jail sentence. Free Zoe marches and rallies took place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City, with powerful outreach, speeches, and conversations with passersby. Some were learning about Zoe’s case for the first time and others recognized her story from the news or social media.

The marches continued that public discussion. We saw positive local press coverage, including from SF Gate and KRON4. 

People are paying attention. And not just in the U.S. People have protested in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and England urging Governor Newsom to pardon Zoe. Around the world, people are calling out the injustice of punishing compassion while animal cruelty goes unchecked.

Yesterday, I was able to visit Zoe. We spoke through glass. So far, the jail is letting Zoe keep her medical equipment, likely due to all the attention on them, but they are restricting her access to glucose which she needs to treat blood sugar lows. 

Zoe was so happy to hear about all the marches and growing attention on Perdue’s cruelty, and the fact that the fight is continuing even while she’s locked up. Your solidarity is reaching her. It’s helping her get through this.

In complete isolation, with little to do, she is lonely and very bored. But she is inspired and resolute. And she thinks, always, of the animals. 

Here’s part of a recent update Zoe shared from jail:
"As I sit alone in my cell for hours, I think about life on the outside: the flowers I pass on my morning walks in Berkeley, the feeling of wind on my face, the whistles of songbirds. I think about the animals at my sanctuary, and also the animals who aren’t so lucky, who are suffering far worse than I am here.

My mattress would be an unheard-of luxury to them. They sleep on wire, cement, and feces. They need help far more than I do.

We live in a society where it’s normal to lock each other in cages. The United States incarcerates a larger percentage of its population than any civilization in human history, and that doesn’t even factor in animals. Billions of animals are locked up in factory farms at any given time.

These systems only exist because we let them. We give them power with our complacency. That fact is troubling, but it’s also empowering. We can take our power back.”
You can read and share the full update from Zoe on DxE’s blog here. I hope she inspires you like she inspires me. Let’s keep taking action:
Like Zoe said, animal exploitation industries depend on silence and complacency. Let’s show them we will never be silenced. We’ll keep fighting until every animal is happy, safe, and free.  
Thank you for standing with Zoe and the animals.

In solidarity,
Cassie

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