Animal Save Movement holds rally outside Halton Police HQ

Members of the group Animal Save Movement held a rally outside Halton Police headquarters Tuesday.

The group held signs that read “Justice for Regan” and “Repeal Bill 156.”

Regan Russell was struck and killed by a transport truck outside the Sofina Foods facility in Burlington last month.

On Monday, Halton Police laid a careless driving charge against the truck driver.

The group says they’re disappointed in the decision not to lay criminal charges and want police to release video of the incident.

“It’s a day that we anticipated as a family but now that it’s here, we didn’t anticipate the pain that it brings reliving June 19 all over again,” said Russell’s husband Mark Powell.

Halton Police says officers conducted an “exhaustive investigation” and believe the charges are appropriate.

They say if additional evidence comes to light, they will investigate it.

Russell was outside the food plant with a group protesting Bill 156 and giving water to pigs being taken into the facility.

Bill 156 was introduced in the Ontario legislature in 2019.

It increases fines for people caught trespassing on farms and prohibits interfering with animals.

Critics say it will increase secrecy on farms and put an end to animal activism.