A militant vegan activist who allegedly snuck into a farm to show how pigs are treated has been charged with trespassing.
James Warden streamed live on the Direct Action Everywhere social media page on Sunday night from inside the GD pork farm near Pinjarra, south of Perth.
His latest stunt was less than two weeks after a farmer in Harvey, Western Australia, confronted him outside his property before firing a shotgun twice into the air.
James Warden streamed live on the Direct Action Everywhere social media page on Sunday night from inside the GD pork farm near Pinjarra, south of Perth
The 25-year-old was arrested in Perth early on Tuesday morning as police raided his home after seeing the 80-minute video.
Warden was charged with two counts of trespass for Sunday night’s alleged break in and another incident in Mundijong on February 6.
Commander Allan Adams said vegan activists were warned there was a ‘line in the sand’ and police would lay charges if they crossed it.
‘There has certainly been an increase in profile with the use of social media to raise protester positions on particular matters,’ he said.
‘Certainly over the past four weeks activists have been more targeting of the primary industry, particularly around their care for livestock.
‘We send a very clear message to those participating in that activity that if you do cross the line, evidence by the search warrant this morning and the subsequent charging of a person, police take that very seriously.’
Western Australian Pork Producers Association president Dawson Bradford welcomed the ‘appropriate’ charges against a ‘public nuisance’.
‘Australia has world class animal welfare standards and the recent spate of activist activity has been very unwarranted,’ he said.
Mr Bradford earlier said activists like Warden should be arrested when they invaded farmers’ property.
Dressed in white forensic gear, Warden and his associate Kat complained about the cramped conditions pig were kept in at the farm
‘It’s important that those engaging in this type of activity are held accountable not only for the illegal activity but also for the misleading, sensational, and selective footage that is not reflective of how the industry operates,’ he said.
Dressed in white forensic gear, Warden and his associate Kat complained about the cramped conditions pig were kept in at the farm.
‘These are the standard conditions these animals are kept in, subjugated and enslaved,’ he said to 55,000 viewers around the world.
‘Kept in small cages where they’re barely able to move. They’ll be keep confined their entire lives until they’re three to five years old and then they will be murdered.’
The video showed open wounds and bruises on the pigs that were left untreated as they sat in their 1.5m by 2m pens.
‘They have pressure wounds on their shoulders from where they rub against the bars for weeks. It’s absolutely sad and sickening,’ Warden said.
‘These are the standard conditions these animals are kept in, subjugated and enslaved,’ he said to 50,000 viewers around the world in the 80-minute video
The video showed open wounds and bruises on the pigs that were left untreated as they sat in their 1.5m by 2m pens
‘If this was done to a dog the owner would be thrown in jail and made to pay a hefty fine but because it’s another species, it’s fine.’
Warden then moved to a disturbing pile of dead piglets who he said were either crushed to death in cages or killed for being too small.
Their tails and genitals were cut off and teeth pulled out so they wouldn’t hurt each other in the cramped conditions.
Nearby was an adult pig lying on the ground with what looked like a bullet hole in its head and its intestines hanging out.
Warden then moved on to another shed on the farm where pregnant pigs were kept until they gave birth.
Warden said the video was made to show consumers what went in to making their food in the hope it would make them join his cause
‘Kept in small cages where they’re barely able to move. They’ll be keep confined their entire lives until they’re three to five years old and then they will be murdered,’ he said
He said the video was made to show consumers what went in to making their food in the hope it would make them join his cause.
‘We’re showing people the suffering these animals are enduring. All of these beautiful sentient beings are going to be murdered for people’s food,’ he said.
‘Animal love resides inside everyone, people don’t know where their food comes from.’
Nearby was an adult pig lying on the ground with what looked like a bullet hole in its head and its intestines hanging out
It was not clear how and why the dead animal came to be in such a state
Warden’s Facebook feed received death threats after the video, such as: ‘Come and visit my farm tomorrow ya little p***k, I dare you’.
‘Only a matter for time break into the wrong farm and cop a shotgun to the face,’ another declared.
‘You won’t be around long, enjoy what’s left of your life sweetheart you’ll break into the wrong farm soon enough, pigs make sort work of bodies,’ a third wrote.
Warden said he received 4,600 abusive messages, including death threats, from farmers and others following his encounter with the farmer in Harvey.
Farmer Jason Parravicini approached Warden and Kat, who were parked outside the property.
A violent clash between vegan activists and a farmer who fired two blasts from his shotgun into the air has been captured on video (pictured)
The farmer repeatedly asked the pair to stop taking photos of his cattle and to leave his property, but the activists refused to budge and continued to film him.
‘Take the camera out of my face,’ Mr Parravicini said, while pointing his finger toward Kat, who was recording the conversation.
Not willing to back down, the activists continued to film the farmer, who then gave the pair a fiery ultimatum.
‘I’ll give her one minute to get rid of that (camera) or I’ll remove it from you,’ Mr Parravicini said, before he yelled out ‘call the cops’ to someone else nearby.
‘This is ridiculous, move on mate,’ he said.
Western Australian Pork Producers Association president Dawson Bradford said activists like Warden should be arrested
Warden said he received 4,600 abusive messages, including death threats, from farmers and others following his encounter with the farmer in Harvey
The farmer then tried to grab Warden’s car keys from the ignition, resulting in punches being thrown between the pair through the open car window.
‘Get the f*** out of my place,’ Mr Parravicini screamed at the activists.
‘You two, out! You are tormenting Harvey. Get the hell out of it.’
Mr Parravicini then went back inside his property and emerged with a shotgun, which Warden said he fired in the air twice to ‘intimidate’ them.
‘These farming communities are an echo chamber for this type of violence and it does not surprise me whatsoever that they are now targeting and acting in violence towards human beings,’ Warden said.