Protest denouncing sale of live lobsters at Montreal grocery store ends with activist detained by security

An animal rights protest that saw activists take to a downtown Montreal grocery store over the weekend – demanding the store stop selling live lobsters – ended in chaos, with one protester being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by security.

Sunday’s demonstration at the IGA in Complexe Desjardins “did not go as planned,” says Rachel Therrien, one of the protest organizers, who claims the group was swarmed by multiple security guards, pushed out of the store and had their signs pulled away from them.

Therrien tells CityNews it began with activists stationed in front of the lobster tanks, holding signs explaining their cause. But she says “right away, store employees became aggressive, blocking our cameras with their hands and yelling at us to stop.”

“As we made our way toward the exit, seven or eight Garda security guards arrived. They blocked our path and began forcefully tearing the signs from our hands — which they had no legal right to do.”

Video of the protest, and the aftermath, was shared by the protesters on social media.

“We demand IGA stop selling live lobsters,” a protester can be heard shouting on a megaphone while the group is escorted off the property by security. “We will be back until the sale of live lobsters ends.”

The video then skips ahead to at least half a dozen security guards surrounding protesters at the front of the store. One guard can be seen grabbing the arm of an activist, who Therrien identified as John Fahd.

“You have no right to do that,” a man can be heard saying. “You have no right to do that.”

“You’re not police; you’re going to get sued,” said another.

“Please don’t touch us. This is a peaceful protest,” a woman says.

Therrien claims “the guards kept pushing us, blocking the exits and snatching signs so violently that some activists were pushed into the aisles.”

Activist pinned to the ground, handcuffed

When the video skips ahead again, Fahd is being picked up by security guards outside and then pinned to the ground. Another security guard can be seen attempting to block a protester from filming, as sirens blare in the background.

Therrien claims Fahd was restrained because he attempted to retrieve a sign from a fellow protester. She says he was held in a cell for 45 minutes and later released after Montreal police arrived.

CityNews reached out to Montreal police for comment but did not immediately hear back. A request for comment was sent to GardaWorld late Monday.

In an email to CityNews, Sobeys, which operates IGA stores, said the authorities were contacted “given the disruption and potential safety concerns.”

“We want to reiterate that the safety of our customers, teammates, and stores remains our top priority,” spokesperson Tshani Jaja wrote. “While we respect the right to peaceful protest, the law is clear that such demonstrations must take place in designated public spaces. The interior of our stores is private property.”

Lobsters and pain

Animal rights groups have long maintained the sale of live lobsters in grocery stores – with the sea creature later boiled alive – is a clear case of animal cruelty.

Though some still question if lobsters feel pain, a growing body of modern neuroscience and behavioral studies – which has led to legal reforms in some countries around the world, though not Canada – suggests the crustacean does in fact feel pain.

“They are the only animal that we actually see alive and that people are killing themselves at home,” Therrien said. “If they wouldn’t boil their cat or their dog, they shouldn’t boil lobsters as they are all sentients and feel the pain to the same level.”

In the two weeks leading up to Sunday’s protest, Therrien says she messaged Montreal grocery stores that sell live lobsters to share her concerns. She received replies from Provigo and Adonis, which were forwarded to CityNews.

“We take the handling of our products in-store very seriously, including ensuring that appropriate health and safety standards are met, thus ensuring that the handling of live seafood products sold in-store is proper and respectful,” a Provigo spokesperson wrote. “We fully understand your concerns and hope that this information will reassure you that we take our responsibility to act responsibly and humanely while respecting our commitment as a retailer seriously.”

“We recognize that certain practices, while legal and common in the industry, may offend the personal and ethical beliefs of many of our clients,” added a spokesperson for Adonis. “Your message provides us with an important opportunity for reflection and dialogue, and we sincerely thank you for it.”

Some of the animal activist groups represented at Sunday’s protest were We The Free and Direct Action Everywhere (DxE).

Therrien tells CityNews there are no additional protests planned for the moment, but she says, “We won’t stop until all tanks are empty.”

“We left feeling even more determined to fight against injustice.”