PETA Heads South, Protests Tonight's Ringling Bros. Anaheim Premiere

Protestors on Wednesday, July 20. Photo courtesy of PETA.

On the heels of PETA's Ringling Bros. protest last Wednesday, animal rights activists planned gatherings today at Anaheim's Honda Center to continue anti-circus rallies.

About two dozen protestors, mostly PETA members, led a protest this afternoon, some dressed in elephant costumes and carrying signs depicting circus trainer animal cruelty, as reported by The OC Register.

"We believe that if people take the time to see how elephants and other circus animals are treated in order to perform in a circus, they would not be supporting Ringling Bros.," said Hayden Hamilton, a Los Angeles-based PETA activist who led the protest.

"Fully Charged," Ringling Bros.' new show, premieres tonight at the Honda Center at 7:30pm. Evening protests will ensue.

"We know we won't prevent everybody from going," said Hamilton, "but we want them to think about it. And hopefully they won't come back next year."

Last Wednesday's rally proved effective, convincing some circus-goers to turnaround and head home while others pledged to end their circus patronage after the show.