Animal-rights activists cited in attempt to rescue a pig at Farmer John slaughterhouse

Seven animal-rights activists were cited for allegedly trespassing while trying to rescue a pig from the Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon, police said Saturday.

Police received a call about 4 a.m. Friday from officials at Smithfield Foods — owner of Farmer John — to report that some trespassers were on the premises at 3049 E. Vernon Ave., according to Vernon Police Sgt. Daniel Onopa.

“Two subjects were determined to be inside the livestock yard and five subjects fled on foot,” Onopa said. “They [the five subjects] were then detained by officers nearby. Due to the pandemic, they were cited at the scene and released.”

The animal rights group DXE Los Angeles — which is hosting a 48-hour vigil in front of the slaughterhouse beginning Sunday — posted a video on its Facebook page showing activists wearing hardhats inside the facility.

The group places a pig on a gurney and attempts to leave, according to the video, but police are shown outside and a voice is heard saying, “They’re locking the doors, guys.”

It was unclear what became of the pig, or how the activists gained entry to the plant.

“I don’t know the exact details about that,” Onopa said. “There’s still pending, further investigation that I can’t comment on.”

Thousands of pigs are trucked into the facility each day, where they are slaughtered and their meat is used for Dodger Dogs, as well as the ham, bacon, sausage and hot dogs sold under the Farmer John label.

DXE said on Facebook that its vigil will attempt to educate workers and the public about the inhumane treatment of animals at such plants, and the effect of the factory farming industry on climate change and public health issues, including the coronavirus outbreak.

Attempts to reach Smithfield Foods and DXE Los Angeles for comment on Friday’s incident and Sunday’s planned vigil were not immediately successful.

Earlier this year, the Farmer John slaughterhouse experienced a large coronavirus outbreak, in which 153 workers have tested positive for the disease.

In May, the union that represents some 1,300 Farmer John employees called for an immediate closure of the plant.

“Workers are still too close together on the line, in the breakroom, the bathrooms and other such hubs,” said John Grant, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770. “Smithfield has not provided full information about what is really going on inside the Vernon plant. Without information we cannot make an informed decision about workers’ health and safety.”

Virginia-based Smithfield Foods has said it has implemented stringent new health protocols to protect against the virus.

“Our Smithfield family members are crucial to our nation’s response to COVID-19. We thank them for keeping food on America’s tables, and have implemented aggressive measures to protect their health and safety during this pandemic,” the company said in a statement.