Update: PETA Protestors Wrongly Kicked Off Public Property by Overzealous Sheriff’s Officers

For Immediate Release:
June 30, 2026

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Earlier today, PETA supporters who were gathered peacefully on public property along SC Highway 56, holding signs calling for the release of Okha the elephant from the Loomis Bros. Circus, which is performing this week at the T. Ed Garrison Arena, were forced to leave by Sheriff’s Department officers. Okha was kidnapped from her family in India as a baby and has spent the last five decades being forced to perform in cruel circus acts. Although the protestors had been told by Anderson County Development Standards that no permit was needed for their display, the officers insisted that a permit was required and threatened to arrest or cite the animal allies for trespassing if they didn’t leave. One of the officers rolled up his car window in a protestor’s face when she attempted to ask for clarification, then refused to provide his name or badge number and ignored her while scrolling on his phone. Videos are available here.

“The only crime here is keeping an elderly, obese elephant in cruel solitary confinement and forcing her to perform painful tricks for human entertainment,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA will continue calling on Loomis Bros. Circus to end this torment until Okha is sent to a reputable sanctuary.”

Not to be deterred, PETA supporters plan to be back tomorrow to protest the Loomis Bros. Circus.

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 Kitsfor people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.