Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Oshawa courthouse this morning to stand in solidarity with Waterloo-based animal rights activist Malcolm Klimowicz, who was making his first appearance in court today on a charge of break and enter.
He’s accused of sneaking into the Barton Road farm in June of 2017, a fur farm in Enniskillen. He then took video he claims showed minks being mistreated. As it stands right now, Klimowicz faces only the single charge of break and enter.
Nancy Daigneault of the International Fur Federation says Klimowicz’s videos are “a distorted view of the industry”.
Klimowicz still thinks that the industry should be regulated, saying, “The animals are being tortured for fashion. Many countries have banned the practice already and I think Canada/Ontario is going to be next.”
Protesters outside the courthouse held up signs saying things like: “Prosecute abuse of animals, not the exposers,” or, “Animals are not property”. Adam Stirr, who is a co-founder of At War for Animals Niagara, said that “If this treatment was done to a cat or dog, it would be criminal”.
Klimowicz will appear in court on August 2nd