PETA plans nude protests against Houma circus

lumbingmi · 11-17-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Matthew Pleasant

Staff Writer

HOUMA -- An animal-rights group plans to stage a nude protest to discourage locals from attending an upcoming Ringling Brothers Circus show at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

Two women are scheduled to appear 1 p.m. Monday at the corner of Lafayette and West Main streets, one of whom will sit in a cage wearing little more than a coat of orange body paint.

Both are activists with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, a Virginia-based animal rights group that has demonstrated against the 138-year-old touring circus for years.

The group alleges mistreatment by the circus’s trainers that has led to the deaths of tigers and elephants in their care. The caged and painted woman is meant to represent one such tiger.

A lawsuit against the circus by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, for the circus’ alleged abuse against elephants is scheduled to begin February in federal court, according to officials with Feld Entertainment, the company that produces the circus.

“A lot of them are beaten and forced to perform unnatural tricks,” said Virginia Fort, one of the volunteers who will protest. “It’s unacceptable when animals are dying for Ringling to turn a profit.”

The organization staged similar tiger-lady protests in Shreveport in 2002 before a Ringling performance. The protestors were jailed, drawing a lawsuit against the city and six officers by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Houma Police officials said they may intervene in Monday’s planned protest.

“If she plans on getting naked, it ain’t going to happen,” Capt. Greg Hood said.

Public nudity is banned under Terrebonne Parish law.

Fort said nudity is just one way that the organization attempts to draw attention to animal abuse.

“In today’s world, we have to do eye-catching demonstrations to get media attention,” she said, adding that the protests are effective. “Most people are compassionate. If they knew it was going on, they’d be disgusted.”

Jason Gibson, a production manager with Ringling Brothers Circus, denies the alleged mistreatment. He said the circus goes out of its way to care for animals on the road and during training.

“We tell everyone that’s coming, come and see for yourself,” he said. “Come see how healthy and beautiful the animals are.”

Three Asian elephants and six Bengal tigers are among the animals the circus will bring through in a one-ring version of its show in Houma, which has performances scheduled for Nov. 28, 29 and 30.

The circus presents between 350 and 400 shows a year.

An animal compound is immediately set up when the circus arrives and animals are allowed to exercise. A veterinarian is on-call in every city they perform in, he added.

He said circus performers are used to the protests, and they’ve had little impact.

“It’s happened so many times now,” Gibson said. “Most people want to see her because she’s scantily clad.”

PETA plans nude protests against Houma circus | HoumaToday.com | The Courier | Houma, LA

I usually think PETA is wacko organization but I gotta agree with them on this situation. Animals should not be tortured and beaten in name of entertainment.

dead money · 11-17-2008, 02:31 PM

PETA is worthless. Someone please suicide bomb the protest, seriously.

David · 11-17-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumbingmi

PETA plans nude protests against Houma circus | HoumaToday.com | The Courier | Houma, LA

I usually think PETA is wacko organization but I gotta agree with them on this situation. Animals should not be tortured and beaten in name of entertainment.

Ringling Brothers, Inc. does not torture animals; they've gotten in trouble for that before. They are constantly being monitored by the federal gov't. PETA is doing this because it is a stupid, worthless organization that desperately wants attention.

***VamPyroX*** · 11-17-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Ringling Brothers, Inc. does not torture animals; they've gotten in trouble for that before. They are constantly being monitored by the federal gov't. PETA is doing this because it is a stupid, worthless organization that desperately wants attention.

I agree. They've gotten out of hand.

Aghori · 11-17-2008, 06:51 PM

Want to see nude bodies for free, then that's it, that will be right place for you.

Foxrac · 11-17-2008, 06:54 PM

Just call police/SWAT to arrest them for being unlawfully nudity.

LuciaDisturbed · 11-17-2008, 10:00 PM

PETA is always OVERKILL. Their tactics are ridiculous and they will not solve any problems. All they do is cause all kinds of problems.

I love ALL animals and I support humane treatment of all animals, but what PETA does is overkill.

Those nude women will just end up getting arrested.

jillio · 11-18-2008, 01:05 PM

Nuts.

Phillips · 11-18-2008, 01:07 PM

Jeez!

Bottesini · 11-18-2008, 01:10 PM

That does get attention. But I think PETA hurts their cause with these odd stunts.

jillio · 11-18-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bottesini

That does get attention. But I think PETA hurts their cause with these odd stunts.

Really. These women need to find another way to feed their exhibitionist tendencies. To think, they willingly make fools of themselves, and don't even realize that rational people are laughing their asses off at them.

It completel;y invalidates any point they are trying to make.

imdeafsowhat · 11-18-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Really. These women need to find another way to feed their exhibitionist tendencies. To think, they willingly make fools of themselves, and don't even realize that rational people are laughing their asses off at them.

It completel;y invalidates any point they are trying to make.

Or they get paid to do this and the mastermind behind this has something else up his sleeves.

Secretblend · 11-18-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imdeafsowhat

Or they get paid to do this and the mastermind behind this has something else up his sleeves.

Maybe the mastermind did all that just to see those women naked?

imdeafsowhat · 11-18-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Secretblend

Maybe the mastermind did all that just to see those women naked?

OOO

Better write up a master plan very similar to this.

Any advice?

11-17-2008, 02:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
dead money Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,429	PETA is worthless. Someone please suicide bomb the protest, seriously. __________________ mike matusow...or god for short.

11-17-2008, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Foxrac o_O Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 16,683	Just call police/SWAT to arrest them for being unlawfully nudity. __________________

11-17-2008, 10:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
LuciaDisturbed Amateur Psychiatrist Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 6,473	PETA is always OVERKILL. Their tactics are ridiculous and they will not solve any problems. All they do is cause all kinds of problems. I love ALL animals and I support humane treatment of all animals, but what PETA does is overkill. Those nude women will just end up getting arrested. __________________ "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - Philosopher George Santayana. Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom My own CI experience, my views on CI and ASL and Deaf Culture and Society DeviantArt

11-18-2008, 01:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Phillips Lets ride horses! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spaceship Posts: 8,566 Blog Entries: 3	Jeez! __________________ *Enjoy life today, Yesterday has past and Tomorrow may never come.*

11-18-2008, 01:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bottesini Wizarding Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Diagon Alley Posts: 12,944	That does get attention. But I think PETA hurts their cause with these odd stunts. __________________

Today
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11-17-2008, 06:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aghori Come and drink Kool Aid Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 546	Want to see nude bodies for free, then that's it, that will be right place for you.

11-18-2008, 01:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 29,484	Nuts.

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