Regan Russell

Regan Russell (1955 – June 19, 2020) was a Canadian animal rights activist who was struck and killed by an animal transporter whilst demonstrating outside a slaughterhouse in June 2020.

Regan Russell
Russell protesting outside a slaughterhouse
Born1955
DiedJune 19, 2020 (aged 65)
OccupationAnimal rights activist
Home townHamilton

Activism

Russell began campaigning for animal rights when she was 24 years old, with her first protest against seal culling took place outside a government building in Winnipeg. In 1985, she read Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals and became a vegan. Russell was also an advocate for Black Lives Matter and women's rights.[1] Filmed in 2012 while protesting against Marineland, Russell said, "People say we’re breaking the law by storming. How do you think women got the right (to vote)? How do you think slavery was abolished?" and "People stood up and broke the laws — because they're stupid laws."[2]

Death

On June 19, 2020, Russell attended a demonstration outside a slaughterhouse in Burlington.[3] Anita Krajnc, founder of Toronto Pig Save, said Russell tried to move out of the transporter's path as it struck her while turning into the driveway.[4] After an investigation, the driver was cited with the Highway Traffic Act offence of careless driving causing death, which is not a criminal offense because the act was not intentional.[5]

In Montreal, actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix attended a memorial demonstration for Russell. He said, "While her tragic death has brought upon deep sorrow in the Animal Save community, we will honour her memory by vigorously confronting the cruelties she fought so hard to prevent by marching with Black Lives, protecting Indigenous rights, fighting for LGBTQ equality, and living a compassionate vegan life."[6]

During the week following the accident, animal rights activists in London held die-ins to protest Ontario Bill 156 and glued themselves to the roadway outside the Canadian Embassy,[7] and in Italy a sit-in was held outside a slaughterhouse in Russell's memory.[8]

References
  1. Craggs, Samantha (June 26, 2020). "'My life ended' Friday: Regan Russell's supporters want justice, Bill 156 overturned". CBC. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  2. Van Dongen, Matthew (June 19, 2020). "'Animals were her life': Hamilton woman Regan Russell killed while giving pigs water outside Fearmans slaughterhouse". The Hamilton Spectator.
  3. Bambang, Sadewo (June 22, 2020). "'Protect what she stood for': Family of killed activist calls for continued fight against animal abuse at Burlington slaughterhouse vigil". Inside Hamilton. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. Meyer, Lucas (June 19, 2020). "ANIMAL ADVOCATE KILLED AFTER GETTING RUN OVER TRYING TO FEED PIGS IN TRACTOR TRAILER". iHeart Radio.
  5. Rosella, Louie (July 20, 2020). "'Outrage': Truck driver charged in incident at Burlington slaughterhouse that left animal rights protester dead". InsideHalton.com.
  6. Furdyk, Brent (June 27, 2020). "Joaquin Phoenix Attends Vigil Honouring Canadian Animal Rights Activist Who Died Giving Water To Pigs Outside Slaughterhouse". Entertainment Today.
  7. Christian, Carlos (June 26, 2020). "Animal rights activists block traffic by gluing themselves to road outside London's Canadian Embassy". The Union Journal.
  8. Sorrentino, Pasquale (July 2, 2020). "Sit in di protesta pacifico degli attivisti al macello di Atena Lucana, in memoria di Regan Russel". Giornal del Cliento (in Italian).
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