VIDEO: Animal Defenders Invade Shriners Imperial Session to Demand End to Circus Abuse

For Immediate Release:
July 2, 2025

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Earlier today, the Shriners International Imperial Session was in disarray as PETA supporters swarmed both the Pageant for Newly Elected Imperial Potentate and the All Nobility Evening Ball to urge new Imperial Potentate Brad Koehn to ban the use of animals in Shrine circuses. Bearing signs reading, “Brad Koehn Supports Whipping and Beating Animals,” an animal ally grabbed the mic and chanted, “End the animal acts now!” until they were roughly removed from the area. Video footage of the action is available here.

“The tormented elephants used in Shrine circuses don’t get a moment’s peace, and Shriners shouldn’t either as long as they exploit animals who are forced to perform under constant threat of pain and punishment,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on new Imperial Potentate Brad Koehn to start his tenure off by ending these abusive animal acts.”

Elephants forced to perform in circuses are imprisoned, shackled, and trained with violence. Shrine circuses—which are among the last remaining shows that still use wild animals—routinely partner with notoriously cruel exhibitors, including Carson & Barnes Circus, which has been cited for more than 100 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and whose head trainer was caught on video shocking elephants with electric prods and attacking them with bullhooks—weapons resembling a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end.

PETA notes that in nature, elephants enjoy playing with their families, foraging for fresh vegetation, and bathing in rivers—but those exploited by circuses spend most of their lives in shackles. These elephants have high rates of painful and chronic health problems, such as nail cracks, abscesses, and arthritis.

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.

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