New Jersey Meadowlands. Demo Against Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Circus. March 9, 2008. PETA and NJ-ARA. Photos.
It was rained out yesterday, but we managed to get it going today. This was the second time in a week that we protested Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus in New Jersey. When we demonstrated for the first time, we were an all-PETA group of eight. Today, in the Meadowlands, the group numbered thirty and it was a blend of PETA and the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance. We strategically positioned ourselves between the multi-level parking garage and the IZOD Center. We managed to meet the crowd who came early for the pre-show presentation and of course for the main event. We did very well because the crowd had nowhere else to go but through us, and we were ready for them. So good, in fact, that security arrived and strong-armed us into two specific and confined areas for the rest of the night. I hope that somehow we have planted seeds in the hearts of many attendees, and they may not be back for more of the circus in the years to come. Our next demo will be at Madison Square Garden in New York City, March 20, 2008. That would be opening night for their New York series, and we will be there again. I expect an even larger, noisier, and more aggressive group who will line both sides of the street. I will be investing in a high quality, high power megaphone just to be heard! Enjoy the photos. Click to enlarge.
The scene of the crime
The guys started setting up in the late afternoon an hour before the show started.
No, she's not with the circus. She's one of us. 
B & B does not mean Bed & Breakfast
Attendees squirmed at this poster a lot, shows a dead and abused elephant.
We positioned ourselves just outside the parking garage and waited for the crowd.
Appealing to those across the street
Greeting the crowd as they come out of the garage
leaflets, DVDs, comic books, even stuff in Spanish
Just wanna make sure they got the message
Darn security people arrived to rein us in. We had a permit!
Night fell and it got chilly. Security walled us in.
We showed how the elephants were beaten
We like the Sopranos, but we don't like the circuses!
A small group shot near the end
Got a bit colder, but we ain't movin yet
Tougher than Old Man Winter
Some intrepid and kindred spirits. Time to call it a day.
Comments
the horrible conditions these animals have to live through each day. Educating the public is the way to stop animal circuses and hope that it's their last circus show. There are so many other forms of entertainment in NJ to attend that doesn't abuse animals.
One day humans won't attend these ancient and so called traditional events exploiting animals for minutes of entertainment and your groups will have been a part of ending it.
Shame on Ringling Bros. Circus,
The CRUELEST show on earth indeed! Under Ringling Bros. Circus fact sheet, at least 25 endangered elephants have died since 1992. Doesn't that average to two deaths a year. Very sad and unforgivable.
More info is on www.circuses.com
Love the pictures and captions.
Wonderful to have such caring humans helping the animals in circuses.
NJ-ARA New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance www.nj-ara.org I know has helped make the lives better for the animals in that state!