New Yorkers and Their Children Rally Against 'Tortured' Circus Animals

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — Dozens of animal rights activists rallied outside City Hall Thursday morning in favor of a City Council law that would ban circus animals in New York City, as the City Council Committee on Health reviewed the legislation. Carrying signs that said things like "circuses are no fun for animals," they were accompanied by two supporters of the legislation, Council Members Rosie Mendez and Corey Johnson.

The proposed legislation, introduced by Council Member Mendez three times, would ban wild or exotic animals with exemptions for zoos, museums, conservatories, animals displayed for religious purposes, and domesticated and companion animals.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is in support of the bill, a representative from his office said at the hearing Thursday.

"It is inappropriate for the wild and exotic animals covered by this bill to be forced to perform for entertainment purposes," Jeff Dupee, the mayor's representative on animal issues, said.

"We teach kids about bullying in school, yet at the same time we take our kids to the circus, which is the ultimate example of bullying," Hell's Kitchen resident Robyn Moore said in her testimony Thursday. "If forcing animals to perform tricks through the use of whips, chains, sticks, ropes, electric prods, fists, and screaming is not considered bullying, then I don't know what you'd call it."

"It's 2016, New Yorkers don't want to see elephants or other wildlife tortured or abused for entertainment," John Phillips, an East Village resident and one of the protesters, said.

Mendez, a favorite with animal rights activists, has been trying for a decade to get the legislation heard in the City Council.

"I'm excited to get a hearing after 10 years of proposing legislation that would ban the display of wild or exotic animals now known as Intro 1233," Mendez said in a statement Thursday. "This bill is a step in ensuring that animals are in their natural state, not confined in boxcars or treated in other inhumane ways and thereby protecting humans from animals that might and have acted ferociously."

"We now know more about the proper treatment of wild and exotic animals than we did in the past," Johnson said. "Entertainment alone is not an excuse to put these animals through more than they ever should have to endure."

Opponents of the bill, including circus employees, have said circus professionals are veterinarians, animal trainers and animal caretakers that care deeply about the animals and keep them healthy.

Tom Albert, vice president of government relations at Feld Entertainment, the parent company of both Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, gave testimony inviting City Council to observe how animals are treated by circus employees.

"This bill would end the century-long tradition of family entertainment that remains one of the most highly attended shows in New York City," he said.

"If this bill passes, Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey will not come back to New York, period," Stephen Payne, spokesman for Feld Entertainment, told The New York Post. "We have no plans at this time to remove any other animals from our show."

Photo credit: Robyn Moore, Hell's Kitchen resident