Thank you so much for elevating my story on your platform. It is very well-written and I'm sure that it will have an impact on many people who read it. So many people have left DxE and been met with harassment, verbal abuse, slander, and have been blocked from doing the important work of advocating for animals. The more people who speak up, the harder it will be to dismiss all of us.
There’s a support network of us where each of us have our own stories. The depth of DxE’s wrongs and evils goes so deep. We are desperately trying to raise awareness, particularly to save young girls from falling into their web.
Thanks for this, Jasmine. please let me know if I can be of any assistance here. It's especially disturbing when young women's emotions are toyed with and exploited.
The NPO Industrial Complex is like this. Sadly, I’m yet to find one without that “culture of hegemony” being perpetuated (they all swear they’d NEVER do these things).
As somebody who’s worked with 501c3 and 501c4 Organizations across a variety of Political/Social Issues for most of my life, this is all too common.
I have far too much personal experience being treated in similar ways by FAR TOO MANY Orgs, including DXE (thankfully by the time I came across DXE I was well aware of the “warning signs”). This issue is perpetuated every single day, all over the World. It’s seriously alarming when NGOs are “more fair and just to their Leaders/Staff/Members” than NPOs and PACs.
This news makes me ill. My efforts have always been to support women lead groups. Just do not trust men. I am so disgusted. and the mention of trafficking… Trafficking? 🤬🤮😖😤
It’s deranged. Sadly, it’s common practice. It’s how they continue to exploit people (all of these Orgs rely entirely on unpaid Labor). Staff is always paid well though :/
Yes, it's an insidious process. Nobody says to themselves, "I want to join a cult." They say, "I want to be part of a movement that's going to save animals." DXE leaders understand this, which is why they recruit vulnerable young people, especially using their annual "Animal Liberation Conference" in Berkeley. They love-bomb people, persuading them to move to Berkeley, thereby isolating them from their families and their home support system.
Nathalia, the young woman in question, had been recruited from Peru at the age of 18. At age 19, Wayne Hsiung suggested to her that she move to the US by marrying either Paul Picklesimer or Rocky Chau, who are, respectively, in their 40s and 30s. Nathalia tried to blow the whistle on DXE's harmful culture and was labelled a "snitch." Then, Rachel spoke up in support of Nathalia. That resulted in DXE deleting Rachel's email account and cutting off her legal support.
It's unconscionable for this multi-million dollar organization to be so spiteful, petty and greedy. Rachel can't afford to pay for good legal counsel, for problems created by actions she did for DXE.
DXE is supposed to be a charitable organization, but its money is effectively controlled by one person, Wayne Hsiung. DXE has at least 3 financial entities: "Direct Action Everywhere," "Compassionate Bay," and "Friends of DXE." Friends of DXE, being the wealthiest of those, has a named board, but is made of people who have nothing to do with DXE. (Those people are Hsiung's non-vegan sister, and 2 of Hsiung's friends from the University of Chicago.) The form 990 tax returns from Friends of DXE show that the entity is essentially a big money maker, spending less than half of the money it fundraises. From the years 2015 to 2021, Friends of DXE accumulated net assets of over $4 million, on fundraising revenue totaling $7.2 million. [ref. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1762068997432490/permalink/2934048653567846/ ]
DXE's employees are misleadingly called "fellows," which enables DXE to skirt fair labor laws and to avoid paying FICA taxes. The primary purpose of DXE has nothing to do with helping animals, and everything to do with enriching Wayne Hsiung. Hsiung has repeatedly claimed that he has "stepped down" from any leadership roles in DXE. But he still runs the cult, and nobody in that cult is working to get access to the money in DXE's accounts. The money in Friends of DXE effectively belongs to Hsiung, who never will release it to any human or non-human animals that need and deserve it.
Yes, this is nuts. A label does not change the definition of employee working. One call to DOL please. California takes labor rights seriously, thank the Goddess. Last time I knew anyway. (I did HR, now retired.) The difference between hourly and salary is the typical "battle." But declaring them...Fellows? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤔🤔🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️ That is ripe for discrediting.
I think people are afraid because they’ve already engaged in retaliation against multiple people who filed reports or tried to come forward. Not in a “I’ll spread lies” kind of retaliation like they do to me, but in a life-altering, my entire future is in jeopardy level retaliation.
I understand, and some attorneys work either pro bono for activists or can work on contingency if the case is strong enough, meaning no payment up front.
I communicated with the father-son duo of the billionaire Karandikar family, who fronted most of DXE's money in the beginning. They don't seem to care. I think they are another example of how the extreme wealth disparity in our society causes harm.
I just found out that within their culture of fraudulent marriages, they will also marry same-sex straight individuals to each other for citizenship and tax fraud.
Matt Johnson married someone named Samar and openly joked about how it was for tax benefits.
Wayne Hsiung married Wilson Wong and put him in a position where Wilson controlled finances alongside Wayne’s sister and two friends from college who don’t care about animal rights or how funds are used for the movement.
All of these people are cishet men capitalizing on the incarceration, abuse, and repression queer folks had to endure to gain the right to marry. A right that is still banned in many places.
Cishet men marrying each other for funsies and benefits is such a major slap in the face to all queer folks who aren’t allowed to get married across the world.
Great point. I have watched all the documentaries about NXIVM, along with other cults and there are numerous similarities with various aspects of the AR/ vegan movement. I am mulling writing something about the "cult of cultured meat" for example. :)
Yes, and I have screenshot evidence of it so I can confirm Wayne Hsiung and DxE leadership knew, and joked about it among themselves regularly. I’m appalled.
Please share this info with the local press in Sonoma County as they cover the trial. The case is about a theft/trespass'conspiracy that happened five years ago, and Hsiung's marital status shouldn't be relevant. But I think the press, the public, and the California Bar would be interested to know what a shady scam artist Hsiung is. Hsiung's naming of his own husband to the board of one of DXE's non-profit entities speaks to his corrupt character. If Hsiung is convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude," he could get disbarred.
Lol, I wonder if Wilson Wong from Malaysia signed a prenup??? Maybe somebody should inform him about California's community property laws. After his husband Hsiung inevitably absconds with the millions of dollars in the "Friends of DXE" account, Wilson could become a rich man. Visiting the US, marrying into a cult, then divorcing to get 50% of a scam artist's take... That would be living the true American immigration dream!
Thank you so much for elevating my story on your platform. It is very well-written and I'm sure that it will have an impact on many people who read it. So many people have left DxE and been met with harassment, verbal abuse, slander, and have been blocked from doing the important work of advocating for animals. The more people who speak up, the harder it will be to dismiss all of us.
you're so right Rachel, we need more brave people like you willing to tell these stories.
There’s a support network of us where each of us have our own stories. The depth of DxE’s wrongs and evils goes so deep. We are desperately trying to raise awareness, particularly to save young girls from falling into their web.
Thanks for this, Jasmine. please let me know if I can be of any assistance here. It's especially disturbing when young women's emotions are toyed with and exploited.
The NPO Industrial Complex is like this. Sadly, I’m yet to find one without that “culture of hegemony” being perpetuated (they all swear they’d NEVER do these things).
As somebody who’s worked with 501c3 and 501c4 Organizations across a variety of Political/Social Issues for most of my life, this is all too common.
I have far too much personal experience being treated in similar ways by FAR TOO MANY Orgs, including DXE (thankfully by the time I came across DXE I was well aware of the “warning signs”). This issue is perpetuated every single day, all over the World. It’s seriously alarming when NGOs are “more fair and just to their Leaders/Staff/Members” than NPOs and PACs.
Agree, I have my own experiences as well, but sadly am gagged from telling them fully.
This news makes me ill. My efforts have always been to support women lead groups. Just do not trust men. I am so disgusted. and the mention of trafficking… Trafficking? 🤬🤮😖😤
I know, it's beyond gross.
It’s deranged. Sadly, it’s common practice. It’s how they continue to exploit people (all of these Orgs rely entirely on unpaid Labor). Staff is always paid well though :/
Yes, it's an insidious process. Nobody says to themselves, "I want to join a cult." They say, "I want to be part of a movement that's going to save animals." DXE leaders understand this, which is why they recruit vulnerable young people, especially using their annual "Animal Liberation Conference" in Berkeley. They love-bomb people, persuading them to move to Berkeley, thereby isolating them from their families and their home support system.
Nathalia, the young woman in question, had been recruited from Peru at the age of 18. At age 19, Wayne Hsiung suggested to her that she move to the US by marrying either Paul Picklesimer or Rocky Chau, who are, respectively, in their 40s and 30s. Nathalia tried to blow the whistle on DXE's harmful culture and was labelled a "snitch." Then, Rachel spoke up in support of Nathalia. That resulted in DXE deleting Rachel's email account and cutting off her legal support.
the name for this abuse is "organizational narcissism" and it's very damaging.
It's unconscionable for this multi-million dollar organization to be so spiteful, petty and greedy. Rachel can't afford to pay for good legal counsel, for problems created by actions she did for DXE.
DXE is supposed to be a charitable organization, but its money is effectively controlled by one person, Wayne Hsiung. DXE has at least 3 financial entities: "Direct Action Everywhere," "Compassionate Bay," and "Friends of DXE." Friends of DXE, being the wealthiest of those, has a named board, but is made of people who have nothing to do with DXE. (Those people are Hsiung's non-vegan sister, and 2 of Hsiung's friends from the University of Chicago.) The form 990 tax returns from Friends of DXE show that the entity is essentially a big money maker, spending less than half of the money it fundraises. From the years 2015 to 2021, Friends of DXE accumulated net assets of over $4 million, on fundraising revenue totaling $7.2 million. [ref. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1762068997432490/permalink/2934048653567846/ ]
DXE's employees are misleadingly called "fellows," which enables DXE to skirt fair labor laws and to avoid paying FICA taxes. The primary purpose of DXE has nothing to do with helping animals, and everything to do with enriching Wayne Hsiung. Hsiung has repeatedly claimed that he has "stepped down" from any leadership roles in DXE. But he still runs the cult, and nobody in that cult is working to get access to the money in DXE's accounts. The money in Friends of DXE effectively belongs to Hsiung, who never will release it to any human or non-human animals that need and deserve it.
Yes, this is nuts. A label does not change the definition of employee working. One call to DOL please. California takes labor rights seriously, thank the Goddess. Last time I knew anyway. (I did HR, now retired.) The difference between hourly and salary is the typical "battle." But declaring them...Fellows? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤔🤔🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️ That is ripe for discrediting.
so crazy, and then the question is, why do donors put up with this??
also has anyone reported them to the DOL or CA labor dept?
I think people are afraid because they’ve already engaged in retaliation against multiple people who filed reports or tried to come forward. Not in a “I’ll spread lies” kind of retaliation like they do to me, but in a life-altering, my entire future is in jeopardy level retaliation.
I understand, and often that type of action is illegal, so we need to get some legal counsel on the situation. I can make referrals.
I will let others know this, but a lot are in financial distress because of DxE as well so idk that they could afford representation.
I understand, and some attorneys work either pro bono for activists or can work on contingency if the case is strong enough, meaning no payment up front.
I communicated with the father-son duo of the billionaire Karandikar family, who fronted most of DXE's money in the beginning. They don't seem to care. I think they are another example of how the extreme wealth disparity in our society causes harm.
that sounds about right. that family is funding ALL the abusers and they know it and don't care.
Speaking of abusers, Karandikar's "Ahimsa Foundation" now has given the "Eat Just" corporation $16 million. https://agfundernews.com/brief-eat-just-closes-financing-round-led-by-veginvest-ahimsa-foundation-moves-closer-to-operational-profitability-in-just-egg-operation
yes I saw it's insane, I am planning to write about it in fact.
PS it seems word got back to Jay, he just signed up on this mailing list lol.
Thank you, Michelle. I have been commenting in discussions about this to keep the lies DxE's apologists promulgate from going unchecked.
thank you Marla.
Thank you, Michele! Also, I know you're not there often so I wanted to let you know I messaged you something relevant on FB.
I just found out that within their culture of fraudulent marriages, they will also marry same-sex straight individuals to each other for citizenship and tax fraud.
Matt Johnson married someone named Samar and openly joked about how it was for tax benefits.
Wayne Hsiung married Wilson Wong and put him in a position where Wilson controlled finances alongside Wayne’s sister and two friends from college who don’t care about animal rights or how funds are used for the movement.
All of these people are cishet men capitalizing on the incarceration, abuse, and repression queer folks had to endure to gain the right to marry. A right that is still banned in many places.
Cishet men marrying each other for funsies and benefits is such a major slap in the face to all queer folks who aren’t allowed to get married across the world.
I have never heard of this, anywhere, and sounds very twisted. Who even thinks of this?
Other cults have done this phony marriage practice. Keith Raniere of NXIVM, (who is the Wayne Hsiung counterpart of DXE), had Allison Mack (the NXIVM counterpart to Almira Tanner) get married to a Canadian cult recruit Nicki Clyne: https://www.cbs8.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/allison-mack-files-for-divorce-from-nicki-clyne/603-429c3896-6bc0-46fc-b15b-c1affcbe1d2b
Almira Tanner of DXE also had a phony green card marriage. In her case, it was to Cristobal Van Breen, who was a DXE co-founder.
Great point. I have watched all the documentaries about NXIVM, along with other cults and there are numerous similarities with various aspects of the AR/ vegan movement. I am mulling writing something about the "cult of cultured meat" for example. :)
Yes, and I have screenshot evidence of it so I can confirm Wayne Hsiung and DxE leadership knew, and joked about it among themselves regularly. I’m appalled.
Please share this info with the local press in Sonoma County as they cover the trial. The case is about a theft/trespass'conspiracy that happened five years ago, and Hsiung's marital status shouldn't be relevant. But I think the press, the public, and the California Bar would be interested to know what a shady scam artist Hsiung is. Hsiung's naming of his own husband to the board of one of DXE's non-profit entities speaks to his corrupt character. If Hsiung is convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude," he could get disbarred.
Feel free to do that Jon. Great suggestion. The trial coverage should def include DxE abuses, it's a rare opp to get some press attention.
Lol, I wonder if Wilson Wong from Malaysia signed a prenup??? Maybe somebody should inform him about California's community property laws. After his husband Hsiung inevitably absconds with the millions of dollars in the "Friends of DXE" account, Wilson could become a rich man. Visiting the US, marrying into a cult, then divorcing to get 50% of a scam artist's take... That would be living the true American immigration dream!
I have contributed!