The circus coming to town might conjure up images of old fashioned family fun, but please don't attend circuses with live animals. Behind the bright lights and curtains, something sinister lurks--horrific animal abuse.
When I was in San Francisco's Chinatown last week, I noticed posters up for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Oakland (August 11-15) and San Jose (August 18-22.) Before I could Google the word "protest" my animal-loving friend Corinna Kavanagh emailed to see if I'd like to join her at the PETA-organized protest in Oakland on August 11th.*
*Update: Protest dates for other cities are added below. If you'd like me to add your city's info to this list, please email the details to me.
What are we protesting? Ringling Bros. appalling treatment of circus animals that include Asian elephants. Just as the circus is an old-fashioned entertainment business, so are the "training" methods they utilize to get animals to perform. One nasty tool they use is called a bull hook, which is a heavy cane with a sharp metal hook trainers use to hit, poke, and pierce the flesh of adult and baby elephants in order to control them. While circuses and many zoos still use bull hooks, they are banned from more modern facilities such as the Oakland Zoo in California.
This video interview with Archele Hundley, a former Ringling Bros employee, shows you an actual bull hook and she describes its use.
If you're reading via email or news feed, click to watch the video.
These photos of a baby elephant being poked with bull hooks were given to PETA by another whistle-blowing Ringling Bros. employee, Sam Haddock, shortly before his death.
Sam felt so bad about the abuse he witnessed at Ringling Bros in Florida, that he called PETA to get it off his conscience. He provided photo evidence and this video interview.
If you're reading via email or news feed, click to watch the video.
In 2009, PETA went undercover at "the saddest show on Earth"—Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—and captured Ringling workers on video as they beat and whipped elephants dozens of times in venues across the country. The footage in the video below is not from a few isolated incidents. It's business as usual for Ringling Bros. elephant trainers and keepers, who not only abuse the animals during "training," but who also hit, slap, yell, and otherwise spew their overflow of hate onto the animals just because they feel like it.
If you're reading via email or news feed, click to watch the video.
I know this is difficult video footage to watch, but it's important that people become educated about what their circus ticket purchase is buying. Although the abusive Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey elephant trainers and the company behind them make me shudder, I still believe that most people are inherently good. Circus-goers need to be educated about what really goes on backstage, because if they knew, most would no longer go and animal circuses will become a cruel thing of the past. Enlighten them.
There is a must-read website called Ringling Brothers Beats Animals that has more information on their undercover investigations, updated news about their complaints to the USDA, as well as a take-action letter that you can complete on-line.
If you already have tickets to the circus, please don't go. Instead, rip those tickets up and mail them to Ringling Bros. Customer Service with your letter about why you're not attending the circus.
Ringling Bros. Customer Service
8607 Westwood Center Drive
Vienna, VA 22182
Phone: 1-800-755-1530
Email: customerservice@feldinc.com
Attend the protest against Ringling Bros. animal abuses in Oakland, CA on Wednesday August 11, 2010. Join me and many other elephant lovers in protest of the animal abuse show coming to town. PETA is providing signs and flyers. All you have to do is show up and bring your friends.
Information about the protest in Oakland today is available on PETA's Facebook page for the event. If you can't make tonight, try to find a night that you can.
UPDATE: Ringling Bros. Circus protest days/times in Oakland August 13-15, 2010.
UPDATE: Ringling Bros. Circus protest days/times in San Jose, CA August 18-22, 2010.
- Wednesday August 18th: 6pm [Opening night protest, co-sponsored with Santa Clara County Activists for Animals]
- Thursday August 19th: 6pm
- Friday August 20th: 6pm
- Saturday August 21: 12:30pm & 5:30pm
- Sunday August 22nd: 12:30pm & 5:30pm
- HP Pavilion 525 West Santa Clara St, San Jose CA.
- Meet at the corner of Autumn & Santa Clara streets.
- There is no reserved parking. Arrive early to find parking in the nearby public lot or on the street.
- Leaflets will be provided by PETA. All you have to do is show up.
UPDATE: Ringling Bros. Circus protest days/times in Kansas City, MO September 8, 2010.
- Wednesday September 8th at 6pm (lasts 1 hour.) Opening night protest.
- Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd, Kansas City MO 64106
- Meet at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and E. 13th Street
- Leaflets will be provided by PETA. All you have to do is show up.
- RSVP online here or here.
- For more info, visit Ann Schleihs' Facebook page: No Animal Circuses in Kansas City - Save the Elephants.
UPDATE: Ringling Bros. Circus protest days/times in Sacramento, CA September 9-12, 2010.
- Thursday September 9th at 5:30pm. Opening night protest. If you can only make one protest, please come to this one. .
- Friday September 10th at 9:30am and 5:30pm.
- Saturday September 11th at 9:30am, 1:30pm, and 5:30pm.
- Sunday September 12th at 9:30am, 1:30pm, and 5:30pm.
- Arco Arena, 1 Sports Parkway, Sacramento CA 95834
- Meet on the steps in front of the box office.
- There is no reserved parking. Please plan accordingly.
- Leaflets will be provided by PETA. All you have to do is show up.
- RSVP for the Sacramento Ringling Bros. protest on Facebook or MeetUp.
If you have additional questions about the 2010 Bay Area protests against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, please contact Eric Deardorff of PETA at EricD@PETA.org
Please help spread the word that circuses with animal acts are not healthy family entertainment by sharing this post with your social network. Thank you!
im a 17teen yearold girl from kcmo today i went to the bros ringling show.
i saw protesters outside..
but i went in to see the show anyways.
i kept having this horrible feeling inside but i ignored it..
immediately after the show i googled the this circus..
i will never go to a circus again
Posted by: selene soto | September 08, 2010 at 09:04 PM
Selena, I'm so proud of you for making the decision to boycott animal circuses. It must have felt awkward to cross the protest line, but if the protest inspired you to research the issue and join the cause, then it was a success. You really made me happy with your comment here, and I'd like to share your quote with some of the people who protested. It will make them feel proud, too. Thanks for being an elephant lover!
Posted by: Jaya Savannah | September 09, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Selene,
I'm so proud of you too! Your instincts were correct, it is absolutely horrible how they treat all animals in circuses. I protested in CA, it makes me feel so good that people, like you, are listening. Thanks so much for making my day!
Dani
Posted by: Daniela | September 10, 2010 at 08:06 AM
Selena,
Smart of you to research about the circus. As one of the KC protesters, it's appreciated to hear your story. Helping enlighten circus goers on the truth behind the animal circus and ultimately doing away with cruel animal shows is our goal. Please continue to share with your friends and family to boycott the circus.
Ann
Posted by: Ann | September 10, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Hey Selena! You rock girl! It takes a lot of courage for anyone, but especially at you age to stand up for what is right.
We are all proud of you!
Ingrid
Posted by: Ingrid | September 10, 2010 at 02:46 PM
Today I purchased tickets for BBRB Circus in Orlando for next week (1/13/11). I then had the presence of mind to google them to find out about any complaints. For some reason I thought this circus, being the big production it is, would have a humane program. I am SO GLAD I came across this site and became more informed. With a terrible pit in my stomach I called Ticketmaster and obtained a refund for our 3 tickets. Its better to teach my 2 year old about compassion and gentleness to animals than to turn a blind eye to the horrible abuse. Thank-you for putting this information out there so people like me can make informed choices.
Posted by: Lauri | January 06, 2011 at 01:08 PM
They will never get one penny of my money. HORRIFIED at what these animals endure.
Posted by: Karen Flett | January 29, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Laurie and Karen, THANK YOU!
Posted by: Jaya Savannah | January 30, 2011 at 02:47 PM
This bastards, the government should take action. I might live in a so called 3rd world country (Bolivia) but Circus are forbiden in this country. Now it is the turn of Zoos. 24 Lions where rescue and sent to Colorado (reservation), something like that should be done with elephants. Regards!
Posted by: Alvo | February 16, 2011 at 08:29 AM
Hi I would like info on how to protest the upcoming circus in my city(baltimore)...any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by: Crystal morris | March 02, 2011 at 09:48 AM
Hi Crystal,
I think you should get in touch with Eric Deardorff of PETA EricD@peta.org about the Baltimore circus. No matter how you feel about PETA overall*, they are really great at organizing circus protests. They will even provide picket signs, leaflets, etc. Eric has been quick to respond to me in the past and has said I can direct inquiries to him.
*For example, you don't have to be vegan or agree with them on every issue in order to join them on this issue. I mention this because I felt somewhat awkward about PETA at first, but my experience with them on the common cause of circus elephants was really great.
Other things you can do might include:
Share this post with your social network.
http://www.sacredelephants.com/2010/08/help-stop-elephant-abuse-boycott-ringling-brothers-barnum-bailey-circus.html
Here's a video I created for people to share as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwtitWcCEps
Personally, I think Facebook and Twitter are the best places to get the word out, so use those if you're on them!
Thanks for reaching out to save elephants.
Posted by: Jaya Savannah | March 07, 2011 at 01:22 PM
I feel so sorry for these poor animals.
Posted by: Kaylee Taylor | March 29, 2011 at 09:23 PM
this is so horrible.... never going to the Ringling Bros. Circus >:{
Posted by: Callista Hatfield | April 19, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Boycott Ringling Brother's Circus when it comes to Waco. The cruelty that their animals endure is heartbreaking.
Posted by: Joy | July 01, 2011 at 05:50 PM
Hi Joy, saw your post and want to let you know I am organizing a protest in Waco Thursday, July 14th 2011. 6:30-7:30 I have the posters and handouts from PETA and they are powerful. Hoping you will join us.
lachelle 903 436 2848
Posted by: lachelle | July 13, 2011 at 10:28 AM
I'm sickened by this.
Posted by: stacey mathews | August 11, 2011 at 08:08 AM
That is horrifying. I love all animals and i started crying before i even watched the videos. I would like to know if there any protests scheduled soon in new jersey or new york.
Posted by: paul schoening | August 19, 2011 at 08:47 PM
I am in Oregon. According to the Rose Garden schedule online, this horror is coming here mid-September. I think the dates are the 15-19. I have been doing searches for protests, but nothing is coming up through IDA. I hope something is planned. This has to stop. I cry too, but that doesn't do any good at all.
Posted by: Nancy | August 23, 2011 at 05:27 PM
A similar thing occurred to me. I had never been to a circus so i decided to buy tickets and go not thinking twice about the treatment of the animals. I am a huge animal lover so when I saw a few of the protesters and the sings they held about mistreatment of the animals, I really didn't enjoy the show much because that was always in the back of my mind. After googling everything I will NEVER ever go to a circus again!
Posted by: A Facebook User | January 22, 2012 at 06:23 AM