KELOWNA, B.C.–Animal rights protesters chained themselves to the doors of a credit union here.
Officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had to use a pair of large bolt cutters to remove the chains the protesters had used to lock themselves to the doors of Interior Savings Credit Union.
The group of seven women were protesting the credit union’s sponsorship of a meat-themed event called Ribfest, which is held in several British Columbia communities each summer, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
The activists were joined by about a dozen other protesters holding signs calling for the credit union to stop supporting the event, and an end to animal cruelty, the report added.
"Other banks are supporting things like MS and Pride whereas Interior Savings is funding a completely socially irresponsible event for the animals and for climate change," activist Tessa Gordey, who co-owns a Kelowna vegan restaurant, told the CBC. "Eating meat is turning more socially irresponsible. Everybody is really starting to see what is going on inside the [hog] farms."
Members of the RCMP arranged for a meeting between the credit union and two of the protesters mid-morning, the CBC said. But after the meeting failed to resolve the situation police officers warned the activists they would be arrested if they refused to clear themselves from the bank's entrance doors, the CBC added.
‘We Will Keep Escalating’
"I mediated this the best I could and have come to the conclusion that it wasn't going to change and they told me that they weren't going to leave, so I made the decision to forcibly remove them," Sgt. Greg Woodcox said.
Activist Amy Soranno told the CBC she was disappointed as officers led her toward to a police van. "We will keep escalating our actions until they stop sponsorship," she said. "We are facing a climate emergency right now. The animals are facing a serious emergency."
In a statement to the CBC, Interior Savings said it met with the protestors to hear their concerns about the sponsorship of Ribfest.
"Interior Savings remains committed to supporting top-notch community events that raise tens of thousands of dollars for those in our community who need a helping hand," wrote community engagement manager Corine Johnson.