Group Cites Misconduct of Officers, Violation of First Amendment Rights
For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2012
Contact:
David Perle
202-483-7382
Mobile, Ala. — In response to a March 29 incident in which a circuit court police officer—who refused no fewer than nine requests for his name and badge number—prevented PETA members from exercising their legal right to peacefully protest Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' routine abuse of elephants and in which another officer failed to intervene in the protesters' behalf, PETA is calling for an apology and asking police officials to offer assurances that the group will not be subject to such harassment in the future. PETA also wants police officers to receive training regarding the First Amendment rights of peaceful protesters as well as the departments' requirements that officers give their names and badge numbers upon a citizen's request.
As seen in PETA's video footage of the incident (available here), a 13th Judicial Circuit Court police officer ordered the demonstrators—who had obtained permission from the Mobile Police Department to protest on the public sidewalk in front of the Mobile Civic Center, where the circus was performing—to move across the street and threatened arrest if they did not comply. This unlawful order was apparently given at the request of the facility manager. A Mobile police officer arrived shortly thereafter but, despite later admitting that the other officer's conduct was wrong, did not act to address that officer's order or his refusal to give his name and badge number.
"Citizens have to be able to rely on the police to enforce the law—not to make it easier for unethical businesses like Ringling Bros., which has a long history of violating animal welfare laws, to be protected from lawful protests," says general counsel to PETA Jeff Kerr. "PETA is seeking assurance that peaceful protesters will not be harassed by police in Mobile."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
