On June 19th 2020, my friend was violently killed. Her name was Regan Russell.
She was standing in front of Fearman’s slaughterhouse in Burlington, stopping transport trucks carrying 6-month old pigs to bear witness (giving the animals love and compassion, and documenting the horrific injustice that is being inflicted upon them) before they were gassed to death in co2 chambers within Fearman’s. The truck driver had been acting dangerously the whole time, then accelerated into her.
I still can’t fully wrap my mind around her being gone, and how she was taken. I can’t find the words to convey to those who didn’t have the pleasure of meeting her what she was like.
Regan was fiercely compassionate. Her energy was a joy to be around. Regan is an inspirational OG activist. She has been fighting to make the world a better place since the 70’s- showing up for various causes like women’s rights, BLM, lgbtq+ rights, and animal liberation. We met doing an action to expose sled dog cruelty, where she successfully stepped in to help a fellow activist who was being choked by a violent musher. With 11 arrests under her belt, nothing would dissuade Regan from taking action for what she believed in.
Bill 156 passed in Ontario 2 days before she was killed. Essentially, it’s an ag-gag anti-whistleblower/ anti-protest law. If this draconian Bill is news to you, please check out www.stopbill156.com to learn more. Visit Animal Save Movement and Toronto Pig Save to learn more about animal vigils and bearing witness.