EX-RINGLING EMPLOYEES TO LEAD PROTEST IN CHARLESTON AGAINST CIRCUS CRUELTY

north carolina | animal rights | news report Wednesday May 02, 2007 15:08 by Charles - TheGetshitdonecollective Riotaccordion at riseup dot net

Elephant Beatings

EX-RINGLING EMPLOYEES TO LEAD PROTEST IN CHARLESTON AGAINST CIRCUS CRUELTY

Elephant Beatings, Daily Animal Abuse Lead Two Charleston Residents to Call for Boycott

For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2007

Elephant Abuse

EX-RINGLING EMPLOYEES TO LEAD PROTEST IN CHARLESTON AGAINST CIRCUS CRUELTY

Elephant Beatings, Daily Animal Abuse Lead Two Charleston Residents to Call for Boycott

For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2007

Contact:
RaeLeann Smith 757-622-7382

Charleston, W. Va. -- Holding a banner that reads, "Ringling Abuses Animals. Ask Us—We Worked There," Charleston residents and former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus employees Archele Hundley and Garrison Christianson will lead a protest against the circus on Wednesday, the circus’s opening night, while PETA members hand out leaflets. Hundley and Christianson blew the whistle on Ringling’s cruelty to animals after witnessing firsthand the daily abuse of horses, camels, zebras, and elephants—including an elephant who was beaten with two steel-tipped bullhooks by Ringling’s head animal trainer for more than 30 minutes. Hundley explains that the animal shrieked in agony and bled profusely from her wounds. Both Hundley and Christianson say that their repeated complaints about cruelty to animals were ignored.

Date: Wednesday, April 18
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: The Civic Center at the intersection of Clendenin Street and Civic Center Drive

"No one at Ringling was ever disciplined for abusing animals," says Hundley, a mother of five who used to take her kids to the circus but now urges other Charleston parents to join her in the boycott. "If your kids love animals, the last place you ever want to take them is to the circus."

Your attendance is invited. For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site Circuses.com.