The Circus Comes to Rochester

Lois Baum and her husband Greg are not your typical circus goers. As the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to Rochester's Blue Cross Arena last week, they skipped buying tickets. Instead, the couple brought picketing signs, leaflets, and coloring books to lead protests aimed at Ringling's use of animals.

Lois, the President of Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate New York (ARAUNY), used her organizations' web site and e-mail list to organize protests of Ringling at all 8 of their Rochester shows. The protests attracted activists from Buffalo to Syracuse, many who were well familiar with protesting the circus. Many protesters at the event silently held signs, but some distributed leaflets to the throngs of people headed into the circus, and others used artwork and street performances to draw attention to the protest.

ARAUNY and its members aren't looking to simply improve the treatment of exotic animals in circuses - they aim to end the use of animals entirely. "We feel that animals shouldn't be used for entertainment," said Lois as she held up a sign - "Ban the Bullhook." Bullhooks are sharp hooks used by animal trainers to dominate elephants. "We encourage people to attend animal-free circuses," she added.

The protesters saw a range of reactions from families headed into the circus. Many tried to ignore the signs and protesters. Some reacted angrily, initiating heated arguments with those holding signs. Some were happy to take leaflets and stickers, and a few even decided to turn away from the circus after learning about the cruelties.

The national organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has long campaigned against the use of animals in circuses, and runs a web site at Circuses.com that targets Ringling and others. The organization distributes undercover footage of Ringling animal trainers hitting elephants, and cites four pending USDA investigations into Ringling's alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. At the same time, PETA criticizes the USDA for its "abhorrent practice of brushing animal abuse under the proverbial rug." Some of the protesters in Rochester carried signs made by PETA, including a provocative sign picturing an elephant's chained foot with the words "The Slave Trade is Alive and Kicking."

For their part, activists with ARAUNY have been protesting circuses in Rochester for many years. "ARAUNY started protesting the circus 15 years ago, in 1992" said Greg Baum. But this past week's protesters weren't limited only to ARAUNY members - Katie Maneeley was among those not affiliated with ARAUNY but protesting alongside the group. "This issue is really important to me," said Katie. Asked if she agreed with ARAUNY's goals of ending the use of animals in all forms, she said "I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I do see how all these issues are related. It's definitely something that I think about, and I'm researching and learning more."

Katie protested at last year's Ringling appearance, and had crafted this year's message according the feedback she got, even taking the time to remove the PETA logo from her sign. "I don’t want people ignoring the message just because they don’t like PETA and I had a few of those people last year."

Ringling, possibly in response to both grass-roots activism like that seen in Rochester and PETA's national campaign, has a section on its web site promoting and defending its use of animals. "Animals are an essential part of the circus tradition at Ringling Bros., so we're committed to the absolute highest standards of care for our animal performers." A frequently asked questions section claims that the animals are "enriched by their environment," and states that animals are trained through "reinforcing their natural behaviors through repetition and reward." One section refers to the bullhook as a "guide" and compares it to a dog's leash.

The activists in Rochester did not agree with Ringling's characterizations. One demonstrator made a sign depicting the bullhook and describing its use. Another made a sign with pictures of elephants from Ringling's promotional materials next to elephants showing obvious signs of abuse and neglect. A few families headed into the circus took a moment to look at the signs and talk about the issues.

Some protesters put on a show of their own and used creative ways to draw crowds. One activist was swallowing swords as she distributed literature. Some were handing out peanuts to tie the message back to the elephants. ARAUNY activist Kathryn Caldwell, dressed as a clown, handed out stickers to parents and their children that said "I'm an Ele-friend. Circuses are no fun for animals." "Most parents were happy to take the stickers," said Kathryn.

Although the annual protests are eye-catching and often well attended, ARAUNY is using other methods to oppose the circus. Representatives of the group have approached Rochester City Council about potentially banning live animal acts. "We'd like to see them banned from the city, or even Monroe County," said Lois. According to the Humane Society of the United States, between 35 and 40 municipalities in the United States and Canada ban the public display of wild animals.

Though the confrontational nature of the Ringling protests was not always appreciated by passersby, the activists took pride in their work. Many noted that attendance this year looked smaller than in years' past. "It feels really good when people turn away from the circus," said Lois to some fellow activists. "And you hope some people decide not to come back next year."