Group Accuses City of Trampling Free Speech Rights by Rejecting Anti-Circus Statue 

For Immediate Release:

August 21, 2009

Contact:

Virginia Fort 757-622-7382

Kansas City, Mo. -- After PETA's request to temporarily display an anti-circus elephant sculpture in a Kansas City park was denied a second time by the city, an attorney for the group has sent an urgent letter to Kansas City Assistant City Attorney William Geary requesting a phone meeting with city authorities in an attempt to reach a satisfactory solution to the impasse.

Originally, the city rejected PETA's statue because of its "political" message. When PETA pointed out that this violated the group's First Amendment rights, the city attempted to claim that legal precedent allowed it to ban the sculpture. But the case cited by the city dealt with a permanent monument, and the court specifically exempted temporary displays like PETA's statue, which the group only wants to display for a 30-day period coinciding with performances in Kansas City by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In her letter to Geary, PETA's attorney points out that the arguments he made actually support PETA's position.

"Our investigation offers further proof that Ringling regularly intimidates, beats, and whips elephants and tigers to make them perform," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The people of Kansas City deserve to know the truth."

PETA's sculpture, titled "Ella PhantzPeril," was designed by renowned New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss and depicts a shackled baby elephant with the inscription, "See Shackles, Bullhooks, Loneliness--All Under the Big Top." It is intended to remind the public about the abuse elephants endure while constantly traveling and performing in circuses, separated from their families and their natural environment. A recent PETA undercover investigation documented Ringling employees repeatedly and routinely beating elephants with bullhooks--a rod with a sharp metal hook on the end--causing the animals to scream in pain and fear.

For more information, visit RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.