Authorities have issued charges against a truck driver involved in the death of a prominent animal rights activist at a slaughterhouse in Burlington in June.
On July 20, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) announced that a 28 year old truck driver had been charged with Careless Driving Causing Death in connection with the fatal injury of 65 year old animal rights activist Regan Russell.
PROTESTER DEAD: Female protester is dead after being struck and trapped under a hog hauling tractor trailer turning into Fearmans Pork Plant in #Burlington. @HaltonPolice have closed Harvester in front of the plant. pic.twitter.com/uAeASsElrH
— Graham Paine (@GPmedia_24) June 19, 2020
Police also noted that “There were no grounds to indicate this was an intentional act, or that a criminal offence had been committed”
Russell died on the morning of June 19, at Fearmans Pork Inc. meat processing facility in Burlington, Ontario when she was struck by a truck transporting pigs into the facility.
Russell had been participating in a “vigil” with the group Toronto Pig Save during which activists attempt to stop the trucks headed into the slaughterhouse to “bear witness” and to sometimes give the animals water.
The vigil occurred shortly after officials passed Bill 156, also known as the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020, which allows the Ontario government to issue “escalating fines of up to $15,000 for a first offence and $25,000 for subsequent offences” to protesters who interfere with livestock haulers.
Since Russell’s death groups like Toronto Pig Save have marched to demand “justice” for her death. One activist group specifically called for these actions to be taken against th the truck driver and his company: “Charges should be laid against the truck driver and Brussels Trucking company. Brussels operating license should be revoked.”