Photos by Laura Sposato
Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus arrived at downtown’s U.S. Airways Center for 10 performances, running from last Wednesday through Monday.
The Barnum & Bailey show, titled “Built to Amaze!,” marked the twentieth time the circus has come to Phoenix. Featuring tigers, dancing elephants and a cast of clowns and acrobats, the circus brought in hundreds of families during its six-day run in Phoenix.
And though most of the entertainment was housed inside the U.S. Airways Center, there was still plenty of action happening outside the show.
A Phoenix volunteer group composed of members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Animal Rights Arizona, the Phoenix Animal Liberation Squad and more gathered outside the center each day, braving the heat to protest the treatment of the animals in the show.
“(The heat) is nothing compared to what the animals go through every day,” said Jessica Burke, a local PETA volunteer, referencing the Circus’ use of chains, cages and bullhooks to train and transport the animals.
The group held signs with phrases such as “No One is Free Until All are Free” and handed out coloring books with PETA’s message on them for children.
Burke said some families questioned their decision to go into the show after seeing the protesters.
“The kids who see the posters are asking their parents about it,” she said.
Ashley Smith, spokeswoman for Feld Entertainment, Inc., the production company which operates Barnum & Bailey Circus, said the animals in the show are healthy and are being treated properly.
“PETA believes animals should be liberated,” Smith said. “We believe animals should be given proper care.”
Smith said many animal rights groups want all circus animals to be liberated, something she said is impossible to do.
“A lot of animal rights leaders have a skewed vision of life on the road,” she said. Any techniques for training and controlling the animals are “really (used) for the animals’ safety.”
Some families going to the show said they did not think the protest group’s presence was large enough to draw enough attention.
“I didn’t even see a sign,” said Angie Lewis, who brought her two kids with her husband to see the show. “We didn’t even notice it.”
Other families said they did not think the protesting group would have enough impact on small children, who might not know who they are or what they are doing.
“I think the kids are thinking, ‘Who are those crazy people?’” Maricopa City resident Jessica Soncrainte said. “I think they would be scared.”
Maricruz Gonzales and her mother Kathy said the way the Circus trains the animals might be inhumane, but it wouldn’t stop her from attending events with animals.
“It is kind of bad knowing about (their treatment), but I’ll still go to the circus,” Maricruz said.
Regardless, most families respected the group’s choice to share their views against the circus.
“As long as they’re not being violent, everyone has a right to an opinion,” Kathy said.
The largest protesting group featured 30 people, Burke said.
Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus is now headed to Fresno, Calif. to continue their “Built to Amaze!” tour.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comments from a spokeswoman for Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Contact the reporter at miguel.otarolaalfaro@asu.edu
