Oh, the games people play!

I am now in Fresno, California getting ready for another fun filled week of the 'games' Ringling likes to play with us, the people who actually tell the truth about what the animals on tour with Ringling endure. Before I go into the story about the silly and sometimes aggressive things, Ringling does to try to shut us up.

It is great to see reporters cover both sides of this issue because so many times Ringling tries to 'buy' their way into having the media only report on their side and leave out the voice of the people who protest against Ringling. I would like to share with you the wonderful media that Bakersfield reported on that includes the 'other side' of Ringling.

First, for my friends who love Univision - Here is a clip from Noticias 39 (http://www.univision.com/portal.jhtml)

Second, is courtesy of CBS News 29 (http://www.eyeoutforyou.com/news/local)

Ok, on with the blog!

To give you a little background on what I do during a demo - I stand on the public sidewalks along with other activists near the venue and we hand out leaflets and cute comic books to the kids. We do not do anything that would be considered aggressive. Our main goal is to be there to answer any questions people may have about the circus and the abuse that goes on behind the scene. Some activists also hold posters instead of handing out leaflets.

Ringling Bros. normally sets up a booth to sell their items directly in front of the doors of the arena, which is always away from where we hand out leaflets. This is normally the routine until this past Sunday. Some brainchild that works for Ringling thought it would be a great idea to set up their booths where we stand.

Before I continue, I must say the comic books are a total hit with the parents and the kids- plus it's free.

So, everyone knows - well, everyone but Ringling Bros. - that if you give people a choice to buy something or to get something for free - most people will take the free item over the item that is being sold. Ringling found this out the hard way.

Since Ringling set up next to us we continued to do what we do - give out free comic books to the kids and leaflets about Ringling to the adults. Everyone who walked by took our free stuff and did not buy anything from the Ringling booth. It got to the point where the Ringling employee approached an activist and was not too happy with the choice he made to set up next to us. The clip you are about to see plays out like this. I was handing out leaflets and I turn around and see the Ringling employee pulling his booth back away from where we were - he only moved the booth roughly a foot back. Then when I looked back again I saw him step up to one of the activists and say something, that is when I turned on my camera, and as soon as he noticed he was on film he backed off.