Prime Inspirations: My Day at the Vans Warped Tour

The following is a cross post from the PETA Prime website.

The following is a guest blog by Anna Ware, one of PETA’s stellar volunteer activists. In June, Ware pulled together a great protest against Carson & Barnes Circus that she not only organized and participated in but also paid for! When PETA’s youth arm, peta2, sailed into Atlanta along with the Vans Warped Tour, Ware again rose to the occasion and rounded up a group of volunteers to help staff peta2’s information table and get the animal rights message out to thousands of attendees. We thought that what Ware did for animals and young people was truly inspiring, and so we asked her to share her experience with Prime readers:

My most powerful experience at the Vans Warped Tour came as we were walking into the arena with our PETA T-shirts on and two teenage girls ran up to us, screaming, “Where is the peta2 booth? We have been looking for peta2!” You would have thought we had on Justin Bieber T-shirts and were working his booth.

I had ordered thousands of silicone bracelets that say “Elephants Never Forget” as well as tons of “I’m an Ele-Friend” temporary tattoos. The kids loved ’em! We were so touched by the kids who were proud to be spending “their own money” to buy PETA T-shirts and other merchandise.

I cannot think of any other reason in the world to stand in 95-degree heat with 10,000 teenagers and music loud enough to make me turn into my mother (“Turn that down!”) except to get the word out to these amazing kids about the ways that they can help animals. I am extremely impressed that peta2 has collected more than 100,000 e-mail addresses and signatures on its “Elephants Never Forget” anti-circus petition at the Vans Warped Tour this summer.

I was so lucky to have the help of a wonderful group of people who readily agreed to spend a weekday at an outdoor festival in the sweltering Atlanta heat. Thanks to Pam Host, Julie Robertson, Sarita Raturi, Elaine Phillips, Jane Berry, and Tiffany Cantrell! Especially Julie—rockin’ the elephant costume in that heat is not for the faint of heart. Afterwards, we sat back and enjoyed some southern sweet tea while reflecting on our accomplishments. We are truly helping to create a kinder generation!