PETA to protest today in front of Macon school

PETA officials plan to be in front of Alexander II Magnet School in Macon at 2:30 p.m. today, handing out booklets to students about their protest of the circus’ captivity and treatment of elephants.

They will hand out booklets, which PETA members say explain to kids and their parents that animals used by Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is scheduled to visit Macon in February, are trained to perform difficult tricks that can be painful, or trained with equipment that can be painful.

“If children knew how animals suffer behind the scenes, their smiles would quickly turn to frowns,” PETA Director Debbie Leahy said in a news release.

This story was originally published January 22, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "PETA to protest today in front of Macon school."