Climate activist who climbed Jacques-Cartier Bridge released from jail

One of the two climate activists who scaled Montreal’s Jacques-Cartier Bridge last week was released from prison Tuesday while the other remains behind bars.

Jacob Pirro was released with multiple conditions, said the Crown prosecutor’s office, including not being at the bridge unless driving by; abiding by an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew; not speaking of the case on social media; and not having any climbing materials in his possession (rope, pulleys) in public places.

“If any of these rules are broken, bail is revoked,” said Annabelle Sheppard, the spokesperson for the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP).

The second activist, Olivier Huard, remains in police custody. That’s because discussions are ongoing about strict release conditions, with the details not having been worked out, according to Sheppard. Huard has a bail hearing on Thursday.

Pirro and Huard climbed to the top of the bridge as part of a climate protest on the morning of Oct. 22, leading police to close one of the main access points onto the island for several hours during morning rush hour. They were charged with mischief and willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

A third person, Michèle Lavoie, is facing a mischief charge in relation to obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use of property. She was released Friday, according to the groups behind the protest – Last Generation Canada and Antigone Collective.

Those groups say Huard is on a hunger strike in jail due to “unfair imprisonment” and “dehumanizing conditions.”

“He is behind held in isolation as a suicide risk because of his strike,” a spokesperson for the groups told CityNews.