My Campaigns
Here are campaigns I am currently working on. I am either spearheading these campaigns or am actively involved with the campaign.
This page only lists the first three campaigns of mine. To keep up with newer ones, please go here.
Jump to Campaigns:
Banning Traveling Animal Acts in Prince William County
Horse Carriage Ban
Getting PBR off George Mason University’s Campus
Banning Traveling Animal Acts in Prince William County
While I am working on getting a ban on traveling animal acts passed in Fairfax County (see here), I am also working with local activists to ban them in Prince William County. PWC is the second most populated county in Virginia. This county is a prime location for animal abusers, especially given recent victories for animals.
While the circus that goes into Washington DC, Universoul Circus, FINALLY gave up on their animal acts, there is still one major circus left in the US that uses them. Shrine Circus has many “branches” of various smaller circuses that work for them. One of these branches goes into PWC. This circus uses primarily domesticated animals, such as camels, dogs, horses, and ponies, but is known to also use wild animals, such as lions, tigers, bears, and elephants. They borrow the wild animals from other circuses, as Shrine Circus “rents out” the wild animals to the various branches throughout the year. They do not bring the wild animal acts to PWC (so far at least), but the animals they do bring suffer.
Fairfax County used to have Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus perform in their county, but after PETA managed to shut them down for abuse, they are now returning without animal acts. If they return to Fairfax county it is unlikely other circuses will. A circus in DC and then Ringling Bros so close, it wouldn’t make sense for a third circus to pop in.
So, PWC is being used by this third circus.
PWC is also a host for many rodeos, seal shows, and other disturbing traveling animal acts. These cruelties must be stopped.
Working with the animal rights organization, Lady Freethinker, as well as locals in the county, I hope to help push for a ban on traveling animal acts. Many cities, counties, and even countries have banned animal circuses, rodeos, and wild animal acts. And if we are successful in getting this law made, it will push for other counties and even the state of Virginia to ban these disgusting acts.
PWC is a main target for me due to the newly elected county chair lady. Deshundra Jefferson started her campaign in early 2023, and when I reached out to her she made it clear she was against animal circuses, rodeos, horse carriages, and other abusive industries. She just won the election, so the chance of getting this ban passed in PWC is higher than in other local counties. Hence, why I am pushing so hard in this county verses the neighboring ones.
With the help of Lady Freethinker, I have collected nearly 40,000 signatures on a petition that will be hand delivered to the county board by me and locals. We will then pressure the county board to pass the ban before more abusers come to the county.
This ban in the county also would be significant as many routes to DC or Fairfax County have to pass through PWC. If a traveling animal act has to pass through an area they are banned they are less likely to want to do so.
If you would like to help out with the campaign you can contact the Prince William County Board:
https://www.pwcva.gov/department/board-county-supervisors
Chair at Large: Deshundra Jefferson – chair@pwcgov.org – (703) 792-4640
Brentsville District Supervisor: Tom Gordy – tgordy@pwcgov.org – (703) 792-6190
Coles District Supervisor: Yesli Vega – yvega@pwcgov.org – 703-792-4620
Gainesville District Supervisor: Robert B. Weir – BWeir@pwcgov.org – 703-792-6195
Neabsco District Supervisor: Victor S. Angry – vsangry@pwcgov.org – 703-792-4667
Occoquan District Supervisor: Kenny A. Boddye – kboddye@pwcgov.org – 703-792-4643
Potomac District Supervisor: Andrea O. Bailey – PotomacDistrict@pwcgov.org – 703-792-4645
Woodbridge District Supervisor: Margaret Angela Franklin – mfranklin@pwcgov.org – 703-792-4646
If you are not sure of what to say, use these this example:
Hello!
I am Emailing you to ask you to ban traveling animal acts in Prince William County. These acts, such as circuses that use animals, rodeos, seal shows, etc. are immensely cruel to the animals, and dangerous for humans. Circuses beat animals to force them to do silly tricks, lock them in cages for hours every day, do not provide significant veterinary care, and force them to travel constantly. Animals in circuses are known to go insane from the constant abuse, traveling, and stress from loud music and cheering crowds. Many circuses have given up their animal acts as pressure from organizations and the public exposed their cruelty. Many cities and counties in the US, even entire states, have banned animal acts entirely, or aspects of them, such as banning all wild animal acts in New Jersey, or banning animal circuses period like in Montgomery County, MD.
More about circus cruelty:
https://sentientmedia.org/circus-animals/
https://www.treehugger.com/animal-cruelty-in-circuses-127652
https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/circuses/
https://www.animalsasia.org/us/media/news/news-archive/why-animals-should-not-be-in-circuses.html
https://www.nyshumane.org/article-the-circus-a-nightmare-for-animals/
https://www.humanedecisions.com/circuss-and-performing-animal-shows-are-not-entertainment/
Places that have banned or restricted animal circuses:
https://www.federalcircusbill.org/briefings/worldwide-summary/
https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/these-26-countries-that-have-banned-wild-animal-circuses-are-making-england-look-really-bad/
https://www.four-paws.org/campaigns-topics/topics/wild-animals/worldwide-circus-bans
Rodeos also are cruel to their animals, forcing them to travel long distances, never having pasture time, and using torturous tools to force them to “perform.” Bulls and horses used for bucking have their penises tied with flank straps, are electrocuted with tasers, and kicked with spurs that cut deep into their flesh to force them to buck out of fear and pain. Calves are taken from their mothers, tased, and tackled by fully grown men. Veterinarians who care for rodeo animals say the injuries they see are almost as if the animals are struck by vehicles! And when these animals break their legs, snap their necks, suffer head trauma, or simply are “too old,” they are shipped to slaughter.
There is more info on rodeo cruelty here:
https://sharkonline.org/index.php/animal-cruelty/rodeo-cruelty
https://sharkonline.org/index.php/rodeo-veterinarian-speaks-out
https://www.hsvma.org/rodeos_inherent_cruelty_to_animals
https://www.humanedecisions.com/rodeo-cruelty/
https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/cruel-sports/rodeos/
A list of where rodeos are banned or prohibited: https://sharkonline.org/index.php/animal-cruelty/rodeo-cruelty/755-locations-with-prohibitions-or-restrictions-on-rodeos-or-rodeo-events
These animal acts are also a danger to the public as scared, frustrated, and terrorized animals often escape our of fear or unable to take the pain any longer. Tyke the elephant is perhaps the most famous case of this. She was a circus elephant who in 1994 in Honolulu couldn’t take anymore pain, so she killed her “trainer,” and fled the circus tent. She was terrified of the traffic and screaming people, and ran through the streets, desperate to find freedom. Instead, she was shot 86 times, and died in agonizing pain, her eyes wide with fear and confusion, not sure what she had ever done to deserve this life of slavery, pain, and now death.
Other cases of animals escaping circuses and rodeos are abundant. In California last year a bull escaped a rodeo event and in his panic injured 6 people on the street. Last year two lions escaped a circus in China and roamed the streets for some time. There are many more stories of this happening, and they will continue to happen.
The circus that comes to Prince William County, Royal Hanneford, has an incident from a few years ago where two of their elephants escaped! This circus has a history of animals getting away, are you really going to risk it happening in PWC?
No wild animal should be performing under ANY capacity for crowds and be carted around like some object. Seal shows that also come to the county, merely a circus act, should not be allowed to continue.
Please, do the right thing and pass a law to ban these cruel acts, save the animals, and protect citizens from being potentially trampled by a terrified animal!
Thank you
Manassas City Horse Carriages Ban
Manassas City is it’s own jurisdiction, not part of the county. We are targeting them specifically to ban the horse carriages. To see work being done in Prince William County see here. For work in Fairfax county, see here.
Every year at Christmas time the city of Manassas allows free horse carriage rides in downtown Manassas. The horses are subjugated to crowds of loud people, children grabbing and touching them, cars driving fast by mere inches from them as they pull or wait for the carriages to be loaded, and forced to work for 3+ hours straight without breaks. The horses show signs of pain from the bit (see here about bit cruelty), pain in the legs, and exhaustion.
Horse carriages are being banned in many cities around the world due to the cruelty and dangers inflicted upon the horses. Horses are prey animals and are easily startled by loud noises, fast movement, and even flashing lights. Their first instinct is to flee whatever it was that startled them. In a loud, busy city environment, this happens often, and horses bolt into oncoming traffic. Horses are constantly being struck by vehicles in city settings, dying from the collisions, or being so injured they are later euthanized. Many horses used in the horse carriage industry are retired race horses from thoroughbred or standardbred (harness) racing. These horses originate from inbreeding and immense cruelty, being raced nearly to death, only to end up being forced to pull carriages. Many also originate from Amish, who also abuse animals.Due to this, many of these horses are often older. It is not uncommon to see horses that are 18 years or older pulling carriages. This is the equivalent of a 60 year old human!
On top of being old and often coming from abusive backgrounds, carriage horses are forced to wear painful bits that tear into their mouths, causing injuries and even bleeding. Bits are designed solely to cause pain to control the animal. There are cruelty free bridles, such as bitless bridles, that do not cause pain and also are stress free for the horses. To learn more about bits please go here.Carriages horses rarely are retired, either being worked until they die, or sent to slaughter. It is not rare to find these horses, even shires and other draft horses, at the kill pens being bought by kill buyers to be shipped to Mexico or Canada where they are slaughtered for their flesh, or shipped to yet another country to be slaughtered.
Every year at Christmas time the city of Manassas allows free horse carriage rides in downtown Manassas. The horses are subjugated to crowds of loud people, children grabbing and touching them, cars driving fast by mere inches from them as they pull or wait for the carriages to be loaded, and forced to work for 3+ hours straight without breaks. The horses show signs of pain from the bit (see here about bit cruelty), pain in the legs, and exhaustion.
Horse carriages are being banned in many cities around the world due to the cruelty and dangers inflicted upon the horses. Horses are prey animals and are easily startled by loud noises, fast movement, and even flashing lights. Their first instinct is to flee whatever it was that startled them. In a loud, busy city environment, this happens often, and horses bolt into oncoming traffic. Horses are constantly being struck by vehicles in city settings, dying from the collisions, or being so injured they are later euthanized.
Many horses used in the horse carriage industry are retired race horses from thoroughbred or standardbred (harness) racing. These horses originate from inbreeding and immense cruelty, being raced nearly to death, only to end up being forced to pull carriages. Many also originate from Amish, who also abuse animals.
Due to this, many of these horses are often older. It is not uncommon to see horses that are 18 years or older pulling carriages. This is the equivalent of a 60 year old human!
On top of being old and often coming from abusive backgrounds, carriage horses are forced to wear painful bits that tear into their mouths, causing injuries and even bleeding. Bits are designed solely to cause pain to control the animal. There are cruelty free bridles, such as bitless bridles, that do not cause pain and also are stress free for the horses. To learn more about bits please go here.
Carriages horses rarely are retired, either being worked until they die, or sent to slaughter. It is not rare to find these horses, even shires and other draft horses, at the kill pens being bought by kill buyers to be shipped to Mexico or Canada where they are slaughtered for their flesh, or shipped to yet another country to be slaughtered.
Due to this cruelty, the danger, and risk of injury to humans, we must ban horse carriages everywhere and replace them with electric carriages, such as what Philadelphia is doing. See more sources here.
What you can do to help ban horse carriages from Manassas City is read the sources below to familiarize yourself with the issues of horse carriages and how many horses are killed every year from this sick industry. Then, contact the Manassas City Mayor, Michelle Davis-Younger, and tell her to ban horse carriages from the city and only allow electric carriages. You can reach her via:
Email: mdavis-younger@manassasva.gov
Call her at: (703)-895-4485
Message her Socials: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.davisyounger
https://www.facebook.com/Michelle4Manassas
https://twitter.com/MDY_MadameMayor
https://www.instagram.com/michelledavisyounger/
You can Email the mayor and all city council members using this Email: mayorandcouncil@manassasva.gov
Or, send individual Emails to the council members via:
Mayor & Council | Pamela J. | Sebesky | Vice Mayor | psebesky@manassasva.gov | (571)-330-5514 |
Mayor & Council | Theresa | Coates Ellis | Council Member | tellis@manassasva.gov | (571)-247-6729 |
Mayor & Council | Sonia V. | Luna | Council Member | sluna@manassasva.gov | (703)-791-9401 |
Mayor & Council | Tom | Osina | Council Member | tosina@manassasva.gov | (571)-621-4069 |
Mayor & Council | Ralph J. | Smith | Council Member | rsmith@manassasva.gov | (703)-303-8530 |
Mayor & Council | Mark D. | Wolfe | Council Member | mwolfe@manassasva.gov | (703)-257-1702 |
Call the City (this will just get you a secretary but you can leave a message or ask to be transferred to the Mayor’s office: 703-257-8200
Or message their socials:
https://www.facebook.com/cityofmanassas
https://www.instagram.com/cityofmanassas
https://twitter.com/CityofManassas
Not sure what to say? You can send this message (please edit some so it’s unique!) or use this as a talking example on the phone:
Hello!
I am emailing (calling, messaging) you because I am concerned about the horse carriages being used for Christmas every December. Horse carriages are immensely cruel as they force horses to pull heavy carriages filled with up to ten adult humans on hard concrete for hours. This weight being pulled for hours on hard concrete causes serious injuries to their legs and spines, resulting in lameness.
Horses used for horse carriages in cities are also subjugated to a lot of danger as they are prey animals. Horses, when spooked, will run away. They are easily scared, and when they flee, which is often, they run into cars, humans, or cause the carriage to strike something injuring pedestrians. Horses being struck by cares or running into people is very common. The New York City horse carriage industry has had at least 25 serious accidents involving a horse struck by a car in five years’ time alone! Everywhere, around the world, horses pulling carriages in cities are being spooked, running into cars, or worked until they collapse.
Horses used in carriage industries around the world are not only forced to work hours every day with painful bits cutting into their tongues and being whipped, but also are dehydrated, under fed, and are usually sent to slaughter for retirement. It is normal to find old horses pulling carriages as many originate from the horseracing industry or the Amish.
This is immensely cruel for the horses and dangerous for humans who can be struck and killed by a half ton animal pulling several hundreds of pounds of weight behind them when in a panic. And since carriage horses are forced to wear blinders, they will run into humans and crush them as they can’t even see where they are going!
I am upset and disappointed that the City of Manassas would not only allow such horrible animal cruelty, but put me and other citizens at risk of severe injury or death. It is irresponsible, and we have hundreds of examples to show this extreme danger.
Cities have banned horses carriages all over the world and US due to the abuse and danger. Cities like Chicago, Palm Beach, Brussels, Prague, Paris, London, Melbourne, Salt Lake City, Reno, Las Vegas, and many others. Many are now using electric carriages that are identical, just without the horse. People get the same experience, without the cruelty or risk of being thrown out of a carriage pulled by a panicking horse!
Please, do not allow anymore horse carriages in the city, and instead implement either electric carriages or another animal free event.
Thank you.
Sources on Horse Carriages:
Blinders: http://www.blindersthemovie.com/
CARRIAGE HORSE FATALITIES: partnershiptobanhorsecarriages.com/fatalities/
Carriage Horses NYC: https://carriagehorsesnyc.blogspot.com/
Coalition to Ban Horse Carriages: https://www.banhdc.org/index.shtml
Partnership to Ban Horse Carriages: http://partnershiptobanhorsecarriages.com/
Horses Without Carriages: https://banhdc.org/hwci/
Victoria Against Horse Carriages: http://www.banhorsecarriagesvictoria.org/
Carriage Horse Accidents: https://www.banhdc.org/ch-acc.shtml
List of Horse Carriage Accidents: https://www.all-creatures.org/articles/act-c-shdc-acc.html
Another List of Carriage Horse Accidents and Deaths: http://partnershiptobanhorsecarriages.com/accidents/
Carriage Horses – Tradition or Cruelty: https://bitesizevegan.org/carriage-horse-controversy-tradition-or-cruelty/
Carriage Horse Fact Sheet: https://fundforhorses.org/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-carriage-horses/
Carriage Horses Have Shorter Lives: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/use-with-carriages-shortening-horses-life-expectancy-by-90-percent-report-112979
Cities That Have Banned Horse Carriages: https://www.banhdc.org/archives/ch-other-cities.shtml
Horse Carriage Bans: https://charlestoncarriagehorseadvocates.com/worldwide-city-carriage-rides-ban/
Meet the Cruelty Free Electric Carriage: https://www.nyclass.org/horseless_ecarriages
Carriage Horse Killed by Neglect: https://www.nyclass.org/ayshaautopsy
Salt Lake City to Ban Horse Carriages After Collapse: https://www.nyclass.org/salt_lake_city_to_ban_carriage_horses_after_horror_collapse_in_downtown_street
Carriage Company in New Orleans Disposed of Dead Mule to Hide Evidence: https://theirturn.net/plight-of-the-carriage-mules-in-new-orleans/
Carriage Horse Dies in Melbourne after Collapse: https://7news.com.au/news/animals/horse-dies-in-north-melbourne-after-collapsing-while-pulling-carriage-c-2423025
Runaway Horse and Carriage: https://www.insideedition.com/8132-runaway-horse-and-carriage-has-family-hanging-on-for-dear-life
Documented Carriage Horse Abuse: https://www.nyclass.org/nyclass_documents_carriage_horse_abuse_at_hackline_during_heatwaves
Carriage Horse in Georgia Spooked and Injured: https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/several-people-horse-injured-in-savannah-ga-carriage-crash/83-63d9c1bf-7f50-4a40-99c4-ab880195e6c9
SPCA Recommends Banning Horse Carriages: https://globalnews.ca/news/4255288/spca-horse-carriage-ban/
SUV Crashes into Carriage Horse: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/suv-horse-carriage-crash-manhattan/
Cruel and Inhumane Horse Carriages: https://www.nyclass.org/horse_drawn_carriages
Equipment Breaks Down and Spooks Carriage Horse: https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/equipment-break-spooks-carriage-horse-in-downtown-charleston/
Rome’s Horse Drawn Carriage Industry Exposed as Abusive: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/rome-horse-video-falling-carriages-animal-welfare-italy-mayor-a9164531.html
San Antonio Must Ban Horse Carriages: https://sanantonioreport.org/san-antonio-horse-drawn-carriage-ban-animal-welfare/
Myths and Truths on Horse Carriages: https://heatherclemenceau.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/myths-half-truths-and-lies-of-the-commercial-carriage-horse-industry/
71% of People Want to Ban Horse Carriages in Cities: https://aldf.org/article/seventy-one-percent-of-nyc-voters-support-a-ban-on-horse-and-carriage-rides-according-to-new-poll/
What’s Wrong With Carriage Rides: https://www.adoptananimalkits.com/advocate/farm-animals/params/post/1280839/whats-wrong-with-carriage-rides
Carriage Horse Was in Distress Before Collapse: https://nypost.com/2022/08/15/carriage-horse-was-in-distress-before-collapse-on-nyc-witness/
This Florida Town Now Offers Electric Carriage Rides: https://www.travelawaits.com/2843547/mount-dora-florida-electric-carriage-rides/
End of the Horse Drawn Carriage: https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2022/07/28/104013/end-the-horse-drawn-carriage.html
Horse Carriages in NYC Alone Involved in 25 Accidents Since 2009: https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20141029/midtown/horse-carriages-involved-25-accidents-since-2010-nypd-reports-show/
Getting PBR off George Mason University’s Campus
PROTESTS ARE SCHEDULED:
September 23: https://www.facebook.com/events/373408161558603/?active_tab=about
September 24: https://www.facebook.com/events/1125074378434369
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) is being allowed to perform at GMU’s Eagle Bank Arena every September. PBR is horrifically cruel to the animals in their “care.”
They electrocute, tie the penises of the bulls, and hit them with spurs to agitate them to buck. Bovines are naturally very quiet, gentle animals, but rodeos (like bullfighting) hurts them to make them panic and buck. Due to the panicked bucking and having their penises tied so tightly, bulls (and horses) will buck so hard and high that broken legs, broken backs, and broken necks as well as traumatic head injuries are common.
Every animal used at a rodeo will be sent to slaughter if they are injured or are “no longer able to perform.” Yes, even horses from rodeos will be added to kill pens alongside race horses to be shipped to slaughter in other countries. The bulls also are branded, kept in trailers for hours without water, and denied fields to naturally graze and relax. Due to the structure of their legs, broken limbs during traveling is common.
This is disgusting, horrific animal cruelty that we do not want on our campus. Less than 1% of GMU students attended the 2019 event. GMU is profiting off animal abuse when there are other options. The Eagle Bank Arena can make money off their other events such as Disney on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, plays, etc. They don’t need to add animal abuser, whether from a circus or rodeo, to that list!
Please, sign the petition and demand GMU do better: https://www.change.org/p/gmu-animal-cruelty-is-not-family-fun-cancel-professional-bull-riders
Email George Mason University’s President – Gregory Washington and inform him of what’s happening on campus behind his back: president@gmu.edu
Office of the President
5100 Alan and Sally Merten Hall, Ffx, MSN: 3A1
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-993-8700
University’s contact page: https://president.gmu.edu/contact-0
Call Susan Riel, the President & CEO of EagleBank. EagleBank spent millions of dollars to put their name on the GMU arena. Ask them to SPEAK OUT against animal abuse. Ms. Riel may be reached at 301-986-1800 or 240-497-2075.
Contact Eric Cuthbertson, General Manager of Eagle Bank Arena who is the one responsible for allowing PBR on campus: ecuthber@gmu.edu
Old Blog Post: https://gmushameonyou.blogspot.com/2019/10/gmu-has-been-making-money-off-animal.html#more
UPDATE (8/14/22):
GMU still is refusing to allow students and alumni to meet with the school president, Dr Gregory Washington. They are hanging up on anyone who calls, and refusing to answer Emails. I recently was able to get an answer when requesting to have a meeting with Dr Washington, but the moment I told them what the meeting was about they returned to shunning me.
We will NOT stop, GMU! You may coward and hide and refuse to let the school president know what you are doing behind his back, but we will continue to fight until this animal abuse is banned from campus!
UPDATE 10/6/22
On September 25th, during the second day of protesting/day of the event, a spectator who was present during the September 24th event found this page and reached out to me. In horror, she described how a bull broke his leg and was cruelly dragged out of the arena.
PBR hid the video from the public broadcast, and I offered a cash reward for the footage, as surely someone filmed it. But, no one came forward, until October 5th when the ALDF branch at GMU did get the footage. They shared it on the ALDF website: https://aldf.org/article/virginia-urge-gmu-administration-to-ban-professional-bull-riders/
I have reached out to them.
As you can see from the footage, PBR does NOT care about these animals. They literally DRAGGED this injured and terrified bull out BY HIS NECK.
This happened on our campus. This cruelty has NO PLACE on our campus, or anywhere!
UPDATE 4/27/23
BREAKING!
After being postponed a couple of times due to situations out of my control, I FINALLY had my meeting with the Vice President of GMU!
It went VERY well. VP Pascarell sympathized with the bulls very much. Upon watching the video of the bull breaking his leg on campus, she said “You’re breaking my heart.” After I explained to her all about PBR of how they abuse the animals, send them to slaughter, and showed her more images and videos of PBR/rodeo cruelty, she referred to PBR as “disgusting.”
She thanked me for bringing her attention to this matter. In fact, the meeting went so well that during it she called in the liaison between GMU and Monumental Sports and Entertainment (who are the actual owners of Eagle Bank Arena) into the meeting to talk about what can be done.
The liaison lady confirmed that PBR has a contract through September 2023, but there’s no new contract as of YET. This means, it is VERY likely that if my meeting succeeded that there will be no new contract! Ending PBR and other animal acts coming to GMU’s campus once and for all!
Now, obviously the work isn’t done. The VP gave me her contact info and I sent her MORE stuff about PBR, circuses, etc. to show none of these acts should be allowed on campus. I also gave her the petition which she was very interested in.
Again, GMU does NOT own Eagle Bank Arena, it’s owned by Monumental Sports and Entertainment. So GMU can’t decide what happens there. But they can be a huge help in getting Monumental Sports in not allowing animal cruelty due to HUMAN SAFETY.
Because I shared all the videos and articles about bulls, horses, and circus animals escaping and injuring pedestrians, that alone puts students on campus at risk. The liability of students being injured or killed gives GMU a lot of power to ensure Monumental Sports does not allow these acts onto campus. I also shared the articles about PBR cowboys being convicted criminals, further showing the danger students are put in by allowing these monsters onto our campus.
That was the biggest cause of concern for the VP, her assistant, and the liaison.
The VP is also investigating why my FOIA request has not been given to me yet. I hope that will also shed a lot of light of what has been happening behind closed doors.
I am VERY excited about this turn of events. It went that well. It also helped that my dog was there and the ladies instantly liked me because of her. She is pictured being a good girl.
I will update when more news comes to light. Please, follow my socials for updates. I will also update when I learn when the last, possible, PBR event at GMU will be taking place.
UPDATE 5/22/23
I received the first part of my FOIA request from GMU. It was the contract between GMU and Monumental Sports and Entertainment (the people who own Eagle Bank Arena). While reading the over 100 page document, I discovered this amazing rule on page 11 (see image):
“The University reserves the right to exclude any event or events from the Arena or from the terms of this Agreement regardless of the prior scheduling of the event, if the University reasonably determines that the event will adversely affect the reputation of the University or its relationship with the surrounding community.”
This rule alone can not only ban PBR from ever coming back to campus, but also ban ALL animal acts from the arena as these acts not only make the school look bad, but is frowned upon by locals!
I Emailed this find to the Vice President and her assistant, and they got back to me the same day thanking me for it and saying they were reaching out to the liaison between GMU and Monumental Sports.
I haven’t heard back since, but I’ll be reaching out again soon to double check what is happening.
Let this be a lesson to everyone to FOIA request for your campaigns! You never know what you might discover!
BREAKING: VICTORY AGAINST PBR
(June 20, 2023) I have just been informed by the Vice President for George Mason University that PBR will NOT be having their contract renewed at EagleBank Arena!!!!
I am working on confirmation that this means no animal events will ever be booked at Eagle Bank Arena ever again, as it’s owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, but for now…. I DID IT!!!!
Despite abuse an threats from local “activists” who tried to push me away… Despite feeling like giving up due to their abuse twice and self harming from their threats and disgusting language towards me…. I stuck with it because the only person who could win this was a student or alumni of GMU. None of these people bullying me or stealing my work are students or alumni so never could get a meeting with GMU leadership.
It’s disgusting that people who claim to have wanted this same goal would have tried so hard to push away the only people who could achieve it (students), but once again…. I proved bullies wrong.
While PBR will still be there in September (Protest PBR at George Mason University), the protests can focus on just the animals and abuse an raising awareness to those going in. As it always should have been.
I will update as I get more info, as I want to ensure no more animal events will ever come back, and maybe GMU can post a statement condemning PBR which could encourage others to also drop them. A huge university like them publicly speaking against these animal acts would be huge to get other universities, stadiums, cities, etc. to follow suit.
For now, I will relish in this victory. My first campaign ever… No help. Just me, a lot of abuse, even someone stealing my work…. But I won!
Continue reading to learn more about this cruelty.
PBR Cowboy charged with RAPE: https://www.kcra.com/article/joao-ricardo-vieira-bull-rider-arrested-sacramento-rape/40865473
Many PBR and Rodeo cowboys have similar charges along with theft, animal cruelty, and domestic violence! GMU, why do you allow rapists and wife beaters onto our campus?!
Look at this list of criminals, pedophiles, and creeps employed by PBR and rodeos! https://sharkonline.org/index.php/top-cowboy-criminals-new
Bovines and horses are branded when still babies. The brand is metal, heated until it turns red, which is then applied directly to the flesh burning it. The brand is above 900 °F (460 °C). That’s hotter than your stove, and if you’ve burnt yourself on it you know THAT hurts. This brand is much worse, held there for several seconds, and the young babies are pinned down by several grown men.
Spurs are metal, sharp, and used to kick a horse or bull into the sensitive flank. This is like someone kicking you with a pointed metal object on the waist. Cowboys are given points the more they kick the horse or bull they are on.
Hemorrhages and internal bleeding is common in rodeo animals.
The most common injuries for bucking bulls and broncos (horses) are broken legs, broken backs, broken necks, and severe head trauma. If they are not “euthanized” (shot) in the arena, they are shipped to slaughter, or are killed outside the arena. No matter what, a severe injury always leads to death despite proper veterinary care existing that can easily save these animals from many of these injuries. A broken leg for bovines and horses does not always mean the need to kill them, as the rodeo and horseracing industries wish you to believe. those who care for these animals are able to save them. There are many examples of horses and bovines with loving humans who survived broken limbs, or even an amputation.
Some examples:
https://www.thedodo.com/on-the-farm/mini-horse-walk-prosthetic
https://www.thebetterindia.com/72343/krishna-limb-dr-tapesh-mathur-jaipur-prosthetics-amputee-disabled-animals/
https://equinewobblers.com/other_surgeries/Amputation.html
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/wellington/horse-injured-from-hurricane-irma-will-run-again-thanks-to-prosthetic-limb
But, giving the animals proper medical care and saving their lives is too costly. PBR, like everything that exploits animals, is about making profit. It’s cheaper to shoot the animals or send them to slaughter than to care for them and respect their right to life.
The terror from the loud crowd, blaring music, being shocked, kicked with spurs, and having their penises tied causes bulls and horses to buck so high that they are more likely to become injured. Those thin leg bones taking the blunt of over a ton of weight landing on them repeatedly and in such a fury is not ending well. Bulls and horses also panic so much, are blinded from so much pain, they also will run into the metal gates and arena walls, causing more injuries, including head trauma.
Tasers being used on the animals while in the chutes. To make them buck as much as possible. Tasers and cattle prods (tasers on long sticks) are used to get the animals into pens, trailers, etc. These animals never feel a gentle hand.
This is just the bull and bronco riding abuse of rodeos. Full rodeos do so much more cruelty to the animals. To learn more about rodeo cruelty and bullriding see these organizations:
https://sharkonline.org/
https://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/animals-in-entertainment/rodeos
https://www.cwint.org/rodeofacts
http://www.humanedecisions.com/rodeo-cruelty/
https://www.hsvma.org/rodeos_inherent_cruelty_to_animals
PBR LIES About Bull’s Death: https://sharkonline.org/index.php/8-animal-cruelty/rodeo-cruelty/2120-pbr-cruelty
Rodeo Vet Speaks Out: https://sharkonline.org/index.php/rodeo-veterinarian-speaks-out
Are Animals Injured?: https://sharkonline.org/index.php/are-animals-injured
Rodeo and PBR Take Government Subsidies That Could Help People!: https://sharkonline.org/index.php/welfare-cowboys
ALDF Statement Concerning Bull Who Broke His Leg at GMU Event: https://aldf.org/article/george-mason-university-students-urge-ban-of-professional-bull-riders-after-video-release/
PBR Bull Escapes and Injures 6 People: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/23/bull-escapes-rodeo-california/9891723002/
Bulls Escapes and Injures People: https://bestlifeonline.com/news-video-shows-terrifying-moment-after-massive-bull-escapes-florida-rodeo-pen-and-jumps-into-crowd/
PBR Bull Gets Loose: https://www.montanasports.com/more-sports/rodeo/2019/04/15/caught-on-camera-pbr-bull-escapes-after-championship-round/
To see images I have taken of PBR at the GMU campus in 2019 and 2021 (2020 skipped due to COVID) please see here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13vnlvpLG8jLkeieTcBOe2XkA-ROO9lCF?usp=sharing
Here are just a FEW videos of bulls being injured during bull riding events.