Giant ‘Crying Elephant’ to Urge Shrine Circuses to End Cruel Animal Acts

For Immediate Release:
July 9, 2026

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

A gigantic “crying elephant” and animal-advocacy supporters will rally outside the Shriners International Imperial Session to call on the Shriners to ban its member clubs from hosting old-style circuses for which animals are beaten, whipped, and chained, as is now well documented. While many circuses, including Ringling Bros.—the biggest of them all—have gone animal-free, PETA criticizes Shrine circuses for still exploiting elephants and other animals and routinely partnering with proven cruel exhibitors such as Carson & Barnes Circus, whose head trainer was caught on video instructing trainers to sink sharp, steel-tipped bullhooks into elephants’ flesh and twist them until the animals scream.

“In this day and age, no animal should be shackled, hauled from town to town like equipment, and forced to perform stupid tricks in front of loud crowds,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “Major circuses, including Ringling Bros., have dropped animal acts, and PETA is calling on Shrine circuses to get out of the dark ages and follow suit.”

Where: Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa

When: Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m.

Why: In nature, elephants live in matriarchal herds, protect one another, and share mothering responsibilities for the herds’ babies. But those forced to perform in circuses spend most of their lives in shackles and under the constant threat of violence. Carson & Barnes Circus’s appallingly long history of animal abuse includes citations for nearly 150 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.