Animal rights group targets kids in a campaign about circus elephants.
(Cleveland) - Yes, that was an elephant with a “bloody” bandage outside Cleveland’s Marion-Sterling Elementary School Thursday afternoon. At least it was someone from PETA dressed as one.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had a person dressed as a circus elephant in a pink bandage to give out brochures. They had comic book images of elephants the activists claim are abused by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus is coming soon to Cleveland.
School District Spokeswoman Angela Buford says the protest could traumatize the students. PETA says what's disturbing are the tactics of circuses.
PETA passed out pamphlets and coloring books depicting an elephant's mistreatment and subsequent escape from a circus.
Ringling spokesman steve payne calls PETA's plan a ``cheap stunt'' and says the circus is involved in elephant conservation.
The school had extra security on hand.
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