By
Rachel Schick
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Animal rights groups show their frustration with rodeo practices
Rodeo enthusiasts attending Tucson's annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros were greeted yesterday by UA protesters who hoped to teach fans about animal cruelty.
About 25 activists protested the treatment of the animals, picketing the rodeo grounds with signs that read "Contest of Cruelty" and "Buck the Rodeo" for nearly two hours. Activists chanted "stop the cruelty, stop the rodeo" as rodeo fans made their way to the stadium gate.
The University of Arizona's SETA - Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - group meets to protest events, such as rodeos and circuses, and has about 25 members, said president Reasa Haggard.
"We're here to bring light to the fact that there is a lot of animal abuse and animal cruelty in some of the events of the rodeo," said Haggard, a geography and political science senior. "We want to educate the public and maybe plant a seed in their minds that this may not be an event that they want to bring their children to."
"This isn't clean family fun as most people that are patronizing this event believe that it is," she added.
Members of SPEAK - Supporting and Promoting Ethics for the Animal Kingdom - and SETA collaborated to distribute material about the rodeo.
Brochures stated that electric cattle prods are used to shock animals during rodeo events, and bucking straps are tightened around their groins and genitals. The result is animals that appear to be wild and angry with the cowboys, said Roberta Wright, founder of SPEAK.
"There is clearly a difference between what brings money into Tucson and what would not go down well if the truth were told every year," Wright said.
Activists acknowledge that the distribution of educational material will not cause rodeo fans to go home, but they hope the fans will make different choices next year, Wright said.
"Animals used in entertainment is cruel and exploitive and it shouldn't be happening," Wright said.
Armando Haro of Nogales, attending the rodeo with his son, was challenged by his 9-year-old to explain the presence of the protesters.
"Some people have their opinions and we have our own," Haro said. "Maybe they don't know anything about it. As long as they don't insult me, I don't insult them."
Haro grew up participating in rodeo events on his home ranch with friends.
"We don't think it's animal cruelty," he added. "It's a sport that we enjoy watching and we enjoy participating (in)."
Arnold Majuta, a Tucson resident and former bull rider, has attended the city's rodeo his entire life.
"It's part of our heritage here in the southwest," Majuta said. "I was raised in this environment and so I don't see it as cruelty."
Majuta said he was not sure if the protesters were making an impact on passers-by, other than appearing as a nuisance.
While Brian Evans, a history senior, tried to give animal abuse information to a passing couple, he found that some people were not interested.
"It's frustrating when people don't want to hear the other side," Evans said.
