Death of Regan Russell

Russell began campaigning for animal rights when she was 24 years old, with her first protest against seal culling taking 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.[3] 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? How do you think slavery was abolished? People stood up and broke the laws, because they're stupid laws."[4] Russell was a member of Toronto Pig Save, a branch of the animal rights organization Animal Save Movement, which frequently organised demonstrations outside Canada's oldest pig slaughterhouse, Fearman's Pork Inc. in Burlington, a subsidiary of Sofina Foods Inc., owned by Michael Latifi.[5] These demonstrations involved activists requesting transporters to wait outside the entrance to the premises for two minutes and filming themselves giving water to the slaughter-bound pigs through holes in the trailer.[4][6]

On June 18, 2020, a bill known as the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, which prohibits activists interfering with animal transport without the consent of transporter drivers, was granted royal assent by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.[7] The next morning, Russell and six other activists from Toronto Pig Save held a pig-watering demonstration outside Fearman's Pork Inc. slaughterhouse. According to witnesses, the last transporter arrived at the slaughterhouse around 10:20 a.m., stopping in the inner lane of the roadway, instead of the lane nearer to the entrance to the premises.[4] At the end of the demonstration, the transporter drove through the entrance, running over and killing Russell—who had been standing in front of the entrance during the demonstration and was possibly crossing the road—and dragging her body several yards.[6][7]

After an investigation, it was announced the following month that the driver was charged with the Highway Traffic Act offence of careless driving causing death, with authorities stating there was no indication of intent or crime in his action.[1][8]

During the month following Russell's death, animal rights activists from around the world protested in her memory, partaking in die-ins outside the High Commission of Canada in London, England,[9] a sit-in outside a slaughterhouse in Atena Lucana, Italy,[10] and a march and rally calling for justice for Russell in downtown Toronto.[11] American actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix attended a memorial demonstration for Russell in California, later joining animal rights activists in a protest outside Fearman's Pork Inc. slaughterhouse.[12] Speaking of Russell, Phoenix 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."[13] On July 30, a pig-watering demonstration outside Fearman's Pork Inc. slaughterhouse was interrupted by counter-protesters, who tried to prevent the activists from giving water to pigs and held signs with derogatory references to Russell.[14]

Animal Save Movement criticized the charge brought against the driver of the animal transporter that killed Russell, calling it "feeble",[15] while Russell's family called for a coroner's inquest into her death.[11] The SPCA's Hamilton/Burlington branch posthumously awarded Russell the Dr. Jean Rumny Award for commitment and dedication to animals.[16] Activist Varun Virlan released a short film about Russell titled Killed For Compassion, which was shown at the 2020 International Vegan Film Festival.[17] Shaun Monson, director of Earthlings, released a documentary about the case titled There Was a Killing.[18] Russell's father denounced Ontario Bill 156 in the Toronto Star.[19] Russell's death was cited as having been the reason for the increase in donations to Toronto Pig Save and having created "a new surge of action against Ontario's controversial ag-gag bill."[20]

• Anita Krajnc case
• Death of Jill Phipps
• List of animal rights advocates