Today is the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos, so Raelene, Corinne, and I joined a peaceful protest this morning at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. It was Corinne’s second protest, and my first animal rights one. The reactions of people entering the park were largely apathetic, although some people were horrifed that the park kept animals while others got defensive and verbally abusive. One Six Flags employee wanted to learn more, while another insisted that the elephants were well treated and would die “without us.” One kind soul told me that the elephants deserved to be poked, prodded, and electrocuted. Another told me I should protest immigration, or something else important.
Corinne ran around in her In Defense of Animals shirt, and was utterly adorable. She was more interested in eating the fliers than passing them out, but other than that she seemed to have fun. The organizers are trying to organize demonstrations at the park throughout the summer, and we will certainly attend more if they do.