‘Dazzle’ of ‘Zebras’ to Bray in Protest on Circus’s Opening Day in Raleigh
Nearly Nude PETA Protesters Will Urge Passersby to Avoid Cruel UniverSoul Circus at All Costs
For Immediate Release:
March 19, 2019
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Wearing little more than bodypaint, a “dazzle” of PETA “zebras” will descend on Raleigh on Wednesday, the day of UniverSoul Circus‘ opening-night performance, to urge passersby not to buy tickets to the circus while it’s in town.
When: Wednesday, March 20, 12 noon
Where: At the intersection of Fayetteville and E. Hargett streets, Raleigh
“It’s never been clearer that today’s evolved public has no interest in seeing miserable, abused animals performing stupid tricks,” says PETA Foundation Deputy Director Rachel Mathews. “PETA’s ‘zebras’ will hoof it to Raleigh to help push UniverSoul toward the animal-free future that it must embrace if it wants to stay in business.”
In at least two separate instances, zebras have escaped from UniverSoul Circus and run through city streets. Animal control officers have documented numerous animal-welfare issues at the circus, including those involving an injured zebra, wounded camels, elephants with bruised feet, and an elephant with a wound on his ankle.
The largest U.S. circus, Ringling Bros., shut down in 2017, citing the public’s changing attitude toward the use of animals in entertainment, as demonstrated by declining ticket sales. Kelly Miller Circus is now touring animal-free, and a growing number of states and cities across the country—including Asheville—have banned traveling wild-animal acts.
PETA supporters will also hold a spirited protest outside the circus’s opening-night performance on Wednesday at 6 p.m. near the circus tent entrance in Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, at 3801 Rock Quarry Rd.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—opposes speciesism, which is the human-supremacist viewpoint that other species are ours to display, breed, and sell for profit or amusement. For more information, please visit PETA.org.
