There were plenty of signs and passing cars honking as opponents of a planned cull at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, BC, gathered in Kelowna for a rally on Monday.
The rally saw more than 50 people gather in front of the Kelowna RCMP detachment and organizer Blake Roberts said the goal of the event was to raise awareness of the situation at the ostrich farm.
“The farm is so isolated. I mean, a lot of people go there, but not nearly enough, and the internet's powerful, but this is the largest centre within an arm's reach of Edgewood,” said Roberts.
“So we can just get visible. Let's tell the RCMP how disappointed we are that they are enabling the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) to do what they're doing. CFIA are the ultimate bad guys...we're supposed to be able to trust the RCMP, and clearly we can't. They work for us. They protect us until the government calls them to attack us, and that's what they've done.”
On Friday, Jim Kerr, a popular social media presence and avid supporter of the farm, was arrested for an alleged incursion onto the farm’s property.
“Just everything going on the farm, everybody knows and then three days ago, Jim Kerr got arrested for feeding birds," said organizer Blake Roberts when asked why he put together the event.
"He didn't cross a yellow line, he fed birds and got arrested and I snapped and here we are."
The RCMP stated that Kerr was arrested under the "Health of Animals Act section 35(1) for obstructing Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) agents from performing their duties after he allegedly breached the perimeter of the Universal Ostrich Farm property that continues to be subject to a CFIA search warrant."
Kerr, who has more than 67,000 followers on Facebook, posted a video of himself jumping onto an old truck before going in between temporary blue fencing and the ostrich pen.
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He then got onto one knee and began using his hands to sweep feed into the pen.
“The BC RCMP’s presence at the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, BC is ongoing, at the request of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) while their operation is underway,” wrote police in a statement on Friday, confirming an arrest was made at the farm.
“The RCMP would like to emphasize that the CFIA is the lead agency in this dispute. We are committed to remaining impartial and are mindful of our roles and responsibilities to the public to keep the peace and be part of the solution.”
Kerr was on hand at the rally in Kelowna on Monday, where he confirmed that he was arrested on Friday and released on conditions shortly after, conditions which include him not being allowed back at the farm.
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“This is where it gets beautiful. You see, before I felt like I was compelled to be at the farm, that I was there to help the group of people that were there, all the supporters, everything like that,” Kerr said when asked what he planned to do now that he was not allowed at the farm.
“Now I'm on my own. I don't represent the farm. I represent myself. And now we're gonna catch this thing on fire.”
As the rally took place in front of the RCMP detachment in Kelowna, Kerr was welcomed with wide open arms by the crowd.
“None of us could do it on our own. We need each other,” he said when asked about the support he was receiving.
“I never wanted to be a criminal, man. I don't want to fight with the police. I don't fight with anybody. But if they're evil and they're consulting with those who would destroy innocent families, I can't wait to see them fall.”
The ostriches at the farm are currently being kept alive by an interim stay of proceedings.
The order will remain until the Supreme Court makes a decision on a leave to appeal.
