PROVIDENCE - - The attractive young woman -- nearly naked, painted like
a tiger and sitting in a makeshift cage -- drew a crowd on Kennedy Plaza
this afternoon.
One man called, "Hey, tiger lady," and another made deep-throated
purring sounds in an apparent attempt to win her affection.
Some even stopped looking long enough to hear her message about the
alleged mistreatment of animals by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey,
which brings its circus to Providence May 5-9.
Creating the stir was a 26-year-old woman named Annie Judah of Norfolk,
Va. An employee of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the
barely-clad Judah's skin was painted orange and accented with black
stripes. In front of her chest, she clutched a sign that said, "Wild
Animals Don't Belong Behind Bars."
On previous protests, men have told Judah they love "big cats," asked
her for dates and left their telephone numbers by the cage. She says she
hopes her appearance doesn't overshadow her message.
"I'm not out here to get a date," she said. "I'm out here to make sure
people understand Ringling Brothers beats their animals."
While Judah sat cramped in the cage, her legs falling asleep, a PETA
colleague wore a "body screen" displaying a video that, PETA said,
showed circus trainers beating elephants. Another PETA activist handed
out written documents alleging mistreatment. Volunteers held up signs
showing the shackled leg of an elephant and saying, "The Slave Trade is
Alive and Kicking."
Also in the crowd was a spokeswoman for Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey. The company, in a written statement, called the PETA protest a
"stunt" and said its animals receive good care.
"The bottom line about animals at Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey
is that they are a beloved part of our performing family, and we are
committed to the highest standards for their care," the company's
statement said.
Shelly Murphy, the company spokeswoman, said, "They've done this stunt
every year."
She added, "It certainly raises awareness that we're coming to town."
Justin Picard, Cindy Nussbaumer and their infant child, Lauric, were
among those who stopping by the protest. The couple don't plan on
bringing their child to the circus when he gets older.
"It think it's just great," Nussbaumer said of the protest. "It's awful
to take animals from the wild. They seem to be crazy, so sad."
John Curti, 26, of Providence, wasn't too concerned about the animals
when the woman in the cage caught his attention.
"She's a good-looking woman. That's why I'm standing here. I'm not going
to lie," Curti said before taking a seat in front of the cage.
Later, Curti said he had gotten more from the protest than the
opportunity to see a nearly-naked woman up close.
He said, "I just watched that video, and it makes me sick."
The Providence police kept a close watch on the protest, but it ended
after about an hour without incident. Judah's cage was dismantled, and
she was covered in a red robe.
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