Hamilton animal rights ‘icon’ Regan Russell remembered one year after violent death
Fellow animal rights activists screamed that morning, witnessing Regan Russell get struck and killed by a truck carrying pigs to slaughter, outside a Burlington pork plant June 19, 2020.
The 65-year-old Hamilton woman had been doing what she did for decades, protesting on behalf of animals with which she felt a deep emotional connection.
But the pain and emboldening ripple effect from her violent death was also felt far away by others who carry the same torch.
Vigils marking one year since Russell died will be held this weekend in Hamilton and in more than 60 other cities, organized by chapters of the Animal Save Movement; from Melbourne to New Delhi and Rome, Istanbul to Buenos Aires and Los Angeles.
The whirlwind of Regan around the globe; it's quite unbelievable, and overwhelming at times," said Mark Powell, her spouse.
Vigils and demonstrations will be held outside the slaughterhouse near Appleby Line and Harvester Road where Russell had been protesting, on Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. A family memorial will also be held Saturday in Hamilton from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. outside the home where Powell lives with Russell's parents, in the Kirkendall neighbourhood.
Other tributes include a new custom-made postage stamp, featuring Russell's picture and the caption Go Vegan for Regan."
The woman behind the stamp campaign is Adrienne George, who lives near St. Catharines, and was a self-described armchair activist until Russell's death motivated her to attend weekly protests at the slaughterhouse.
It took me a long time to get to the front lines," she said. I was shocked and horrified by what happened to Regan. She died for what she believed in, and I thought that if she did that, I can go and stand for my beliefs and make a difference."
Last year, the 28-year-old driver of the truck that struck Russell was charged by Halton Regional Police with careless driving causing death under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act. Police said there were no grounds to indicate this was an intentional act."
The day she died, Russell had been speaking out against Bill 156, a new law in Ontario that makes it more difficult for protesters to get close to livestock.
We will continue fighting to overturn these horrible rules, which is what (Russell) fought for," said Toronto Pig Save co-founder Anita Krajnc.
The charge against the driver outraged activists, who felt it should have been harsher.
In the U.K., Russell's fate carried echoes of the 1995 death of British animal rights activist Jill Phipps, who was crushed underneath a truck hauling veal calves. The driver was not charged.
Among those who will pay tribute to Russell at a candlelight vigil outside a slaughterhouse Saturday in Bristol, in southwest England, is Nicola Harris. Ten years ago she spent seven months in jail for her activism. After her release she laid low - but that changed when she heard of Russell's death.
I felt physically sick," she wrote in an email to the Spectator. As soon as I learned the name Regan Russell I couldn't stop crying. I didn't know Regan, but to see her name and photo made it feel very real. She could have been any one of us. ... Regan died trying to protect some of the most vulnerable, exploited beings on our planet. Activists all over the world have been touched by this tragedy. Regan is a global icon."
The Spectator exchanged emails with several other international animal rights activists planning tributes to Russell on Saturday.
In northeast England, Barbara Helen will perform a song at a vigil that she wrote titled One Voice, for Regan." The lyrics include: Where there was darkness you were the light, shining so strong and shining so bright/We will keep fighting and your memory will go on and on."
Karen Chaves, in Argentina, said vigils will be held in six cities in her country, adding that Russell's death broke her heart: She became a legacy for us. I always have her in mind when we go to the slaughterhouses."
Joy Satchell, in New Zealand, cried hearing the news last year, and said that since there are no slaughterhouses in her city of Tauranga, the local Animal Save chapter will pay homage to Russell outside a trucking company that transports animals.
Powell, meanwhile, will be a featured speaker honouring his spouse at the Burlington vigil.
Over the past year he has accepted invitations to speak at other animal rights events.
I try my best," said Powell, who always supported Russell's social activism but typically not as a participant. As Regan used to say, I'm trying and I don't know if it does any good, but I know doing nothing does no good."
Years ago Russell worked as a fashion model, and first got involved with the movement protesting seal hunting in the 1980s.
Powell said that when she walked into a room - tall and beautiful" - she commanded attention, and used any platform she had to advocate for her cause.
While activists in the animal rights movement have experienced a powerful connection to his partner, no one can feel what's in his heart.
I miss her terribly," Powell said. When your spouse is everything, you miss everything about her ... It's like someone cut off your arm."
He also knows that by virtue of the symbol she became in death, he must share her.
The Animal Save Movement is like a new family and I support them in any way I can ... All I can do is stand on Regan's behalf, because she no longer can. I think she would love that I'm doing it, and also expect it, because she always knew I had her back."
Jon Wells is a Hamilton-based reporter and feature writer for The Spectator. Reach him via email: jwells@thespec.com