Clowns Clash with Animal Rights Protesters at California Circus

Sadly, it wasn’t part of the act.

Animal rights protesters clashed with clowns on Friday evening at a circus in Southern California. According to NBC, the brawl began shortly after the Ramos Bros. Circus spectacle began just outside of San Bernardino.

NBC reports that the circus staffers had been trying to prevent the protesters from entering the big top during the performance. The activists had previously been picketing outside the premises. “Two protesters were arrested following the big top brawl and Ringmaster Oliver Ramos claimed his lip was split after he was hit in the face with his own megaphone,” the New York Daily News reported.

The incident will apparently not deter further protests, as NBC LA wrote that more than 100 protesters are expected to show up for protests on Saturday. The group targets circuses because they, according to a mission page, “perpetuate animal cruelty, inhumane care, public safety hazards and distorted images of wildlife.”

“These people are just crazy fanatics… it has to stop,” the ringmaster told NBC. “These people are getting out of hand.”

Watch amateur video of the incident below, via NBC:

And this from: DxE SoCal – Ramos Bros. Circus Protest in San Bernardino

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