Animal rights activist arrested after protest at Abbotsford pig farm

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. (NEWS 1130) — One person has been arrested after dozens of animal rights activists swarmed a pig farm in Abbotsford, after a video showing poor conditions at the site surfaced online.

Police escorted dozens of animal rights activists out of a pig farm after an hours-long “lock down.” The group protested in response to a video that appeared to show dead and dying animals, apparently shot at the facility.

The activists said in a news release that they “peacefully entered” Excelsior Hog Farm Sunday morning, while another 135 individuals gathered outside the property in support, wearing “Meat the Victims” shirts and singing.

Abbotsford Police confirming one person has been arrested following a protest at a pig farm. That person faces charges of mischief and break and enter. Those who entered the barns have been released with no papers, promise to appear, etc. @NEWS1130

— Tarnjit Kaur Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) April 28, 2019

Sgt. Judy Bird with Abbotsford Police says 65 protesters went into the farm, demanding media be allowed access to the barn.

“The negotiated an agreement where media would be allowed to come through the barns with the homeowners under the supervision of vets, and at that time, they agreed that they would leave the barn,” she tells NEWS 1130.

That’s when one person was arrested. They are facing charges of break and enter and mischief, while the rest of the protesters were released.

She says they are still investigating.

“People have the right to have protest, rally and freedom of speech,” she says. “However, in this instance, we did have a large group of people that broke onto private property.”

The clip, posted on YouTube on Tuesday, appears to show dead piglets left among living animals, as well as fully grown pigs with growths and lacerations.

RELATED: BC Pork investigates Abbotsford pig farm after graphic video surfaces

Abbotsford Police closed off Harris Road from Gladwin Road to Riverside Street during the protest Sunday morning. Police said there were vets assessing the health of the pigs.

“There are vets on site to make sure the animals are safe and healthy and make sure that the protesters are keeping out for the welfare of the animals,” Bird said.

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The other protesters were not under arrested.

Ray Binnendyk, one of the brothers who operates the farm, says they are raising the animals to the best of their ability, they love what they do and they are saddened by being depicted as “bad people.”