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Greetings!
The Tiger Truck's recent trip to Texas is over, and proved to be very eventful.
 Our first stop, at AT&T's headquarters in San Antonio, happened to coincide with the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. The local media and the rodeo mafia try to make it appear that this is a time-honored tradition in San Antonio, so we anticipated a lot of negativism from local people upset that we were there. That wasn't the case at all.
We were amazed at the amount of support we got from San Antonio citizens with "thumbs up" signs, cheers at times, and encouraging emails. For five nights the crew operated the Tiger outside AT&T headquarters and in the downtown San Antonio area. Unfortunately, the San Antonio police could not be included amongst the progressive quarters of the city.
 We already reported in a previous e-update that a San Antonio bicycle cop gave us a warning ticket early on our first night. After leaving, we reviewed the law that was cited and concluded that the officer's warning was bogus. For two more nights the Tiger prowled around AT&T's headquarters, screens blazing, without incident. But that was about to change.
 On Wednesday, after In Defense of Animals' Kristie Phelps assisted SHARK by distributing a press release about our efforts, a television news crew showed up, resulting in a very fine story on the evening news. It's amazing what can happen when the media does its job. There's nothing the rodeo mafia or any other corrupt organization fears like a media that does its job. The reporters used graphic images of abuse right from the Tiger's screens, and, of course, gave AT&T an opportunity to respond to our charges that the company is sponsoring animal abuse.
Being corporate cowards, AT&T CEO Edward Whitacre and the rest of his sleazy executives declined. Apparently realizing that their corporate subsidizing of abuse is entirely indefensible, AT&T didn't even bother to repeat the standard rodeo propaganda, and instead chose to hide their faces.
The very next night, the same bike cop who gave us a bogus warning ticket on Monday was waiting. My guess is that he got a good reaming from the suits at AT&T after the media exposure. The cop gave us three tickets this time, claiming that our audio was too loud (it wasn't), that a screen inside the Tiger's cab is illegal (it isn't), and that our rear video screen is somehow illegal (wrong again).
Please call and write AT&T/Cingular and urge them to stop supporting abuse! Many supporters have already terminated their contracts with the company, and you can read their letters and get full contact information at www.ATTcruelty.com.
Moving on, our interaction with the San Antonio police was not over. It started with a young street dog lying on the side of a busy road. Janet Enoch and I were driving the Tiger toward AT&T's headquarters on Friday afternoon for what was to be our fifth and final evening in San Antonio.
 We both saw her at the same time - a young black lab mix perhaps a little under a year old. At first we thought a car had hit her, but when we approached, the pup got to her feet. She was thin, and her fur was a mess from parasites, but she appeared to be otherwise healthy for a street dog.
Talking to some people in the area confirmed that she had no caregiver, and we decided we had to do something. After getting her over to an area veterinary office for care and boarding for the night, we rushed off to get to AT&T's headquarters.
We were on a highway headed back into downtown San Antonio when a small car suddenly cut right in front of the Tiger and hit the brakes. It was a dangerous stunt, and we figured the driver must either be drunk or just plain nuts. The car zoomed ahead, but then fell back, to our rear. Then it happened again. Another swerve in front of us, and again the driver hit the brakes.
Now we realized that the driver probably wasn't drunk, or just nuts, he was in all likelihood a rodeo thug, either a local or in town for the rodeo. I quickly hit the starter switch for the Tiger's generator and it roared to life. Then I flipped the switch to turn on the truck's outside surveillance video cameras. Our video security blanket came to life in time to catch another run by the creep. Meanwhile, Janet was able to write down the creep's license plate information. We maneuvered into a different lane and the attacker was stuck on a ramp heading in a different direction from us. We pulled off the highway, started up our video operation, and as soon as we got close to AT&T headquarters we called the police.
Before long an officer showed up, another cop on a bike. I asked the officer if he was responding to our call. The officer replied that he was there for two reasons. The first, he said, was our call. The second reason, he said, was that two people had complained that the Tiger's crew was supposedly harassing horse-drawn carriage drivers by jumping out of the Tiger and shouting at them!
This was an outrageous lie, and I explained to the officers that the truth about everything was to be found in SHARK's video surveillance cameras. I first showed the officer the incident with the car on the highway. Then I asked the officer if he wanted to look at all of the video footage for the evening, because if Janet and I were doing what had been falsely reported, the cameras would show us exiting and entering the vehicle. The officer realized that I was telling the truth, and on a Friday night the cops have better things to do than watch video of nothing going on, so he declined the offer. We went on our way, continuing to spread our message about AT&T cruel rodeo sponsorship.
Later that evening, Janet called San Antonio police to inquire about the car incident. The police told her that they had located the car, but would say nothing more. We were troubled by the inaction of the police over a videotaped incident of road rage and someone's use of an automobile as a weapon.
On Saturday we prepared to leave for Houston, where we would link up with local activists in advance of the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show. On our way to pick up our newfound friend, the young black stray, we stopped at San Antonio police headquarters. With regard to the incident with the car we were given a song-and-dance about how even though there was video and a license number, and even though the police found the car, they didn't know who the driver was. Now this was either a total crock, or the San Antonio police have never heard of something called an investigation. When we said we expected charges to be filed against the people who filed a false report against us, claiming that we had bothered carriage drivers, the police didn't want to do anything there either.
In summary, the San Antonio police were perfectly willing to give bogus citations to the Tiger in an effort to chill our First Amendment rights, but completely unwilling to do anything about a potentially deadly case of road rage, or to deal with people misusing police resources to harass citizens. One can only imagine what charges might have sprung up if we didn't have those surveillance cameras that could prove that we were innocent of the lies concocted by some cowardly, likely pro-rodeo/AT&T goons.
My guess is that AT&T was very displeased by the coverage the night before. AT&T execs had refused an opportunity to confront the rodeo issue the night before, and it appears they instead had the San Antonio police do their dirty work for them. In the end we may find that those behind the road rage case and the filing of false police reports are all part of AT&T's retribution. That's how it works with the type of corporate filth who sponsor rodeos. Now, however, those cops are going to have to explain their actions in court, and we will continue to try to uncover the other sordid goings on.
Because we intend to vigorously defend ourselves we will not discuss many details of the case at this time, as we don't want the authorities to "adjust" their version of what happened. It will be problematic and expensive to fight this ridiculous case, but in the end I expect that it is the San Antonio police who will be scrambling for a way to explain their actions.
We will give updates as we are able. Meanwhile, we are looking for a very proficient lawyer who is not afraid to take on local government. If you know of such an attorney licensed to practice in Texas and preferably located in the San Antonio area, we would love to hear about him/her.
With our newfound friend packed into the very small cab of the Tiger, we made our way toward Houston. Fortunately, the exhausted pup was happy to spend most of her time sleeping on the floor. Even the booming diesel engine of the Tiger wasn't enough to keep her awake, now that she felt safe and loved. |
| Newspaper or Rodeo Rag? |
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| The San Antonio Express-News: Is it a newspaper, or just a rodeo rag?
 When the Tiger was in San Antonio, the paper repeatedly refused to send anyone out to cover the other side of rodeo with us, in spite of a compelling street presentation and graphic video images.
So, if you chose rodeo rag, you win.
Above, rodeo rags, like the San Antonio E-N, refuse to cover the "other" side of rodeo such as animals dragged out by tractors.
Now, as the following column shows, the SA Express-News basically has a policy of NOT covering the other side of rodeo, meaning that it really isn't a newspaper at all, but rather, just a rodeo rag.
After receiving a letter from a reader similarly appalled , an Express-News columnist even exposed his own paper on this very point. From the Express-News on February 20, 2007:
Bob Richter: Reader criticizes lack of coverage of rodeo's 'brutal' angle
"By the time most of you read this, the 2007 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will be history.
The Express-News staff did its usual thorough job covering the annual shindig that contributes to scholarships and gives us an opportunity to revisit Texas' well-known cowboy heritage.
While most folks here either love the rodeo or have only a passing interest in it, a few hate it. E-N reader Trudy Land represented the latter viewpoint in a recent letter to the editor, a portion of which follows:
"Why does the Express-News continue year after year to provide such positive coverage of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo? Why doesn't the Express-News provide fair and balanced coverage of such a brutal and inhumane sport?
"The San Antonio Stock and Rodeo Show fits perfectly for San Antonio ... one of the fattest cities, one of the sweatiest cities, one of the stingiest cities, and now ... one of the dumbest and cruelest cities.
"The stock show part of the coverage is not the issue. It is the rodeo ... the bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, women's barrel racing, and bull riding.
"How can anyone support causing pain to animals in this manner? ... What is it with this society that people want to inflict pain and participate in these events?" I have to admit that I have a laissez-faire attitude toward the rodeo animals and the people who ride and rope them.
But the Express-News has devoted hundreds of column inches to the 2007 stock show and rodeo and hasn't yet quoted anyone who says it hurts calves to be lassoed at high speed, or that broncs who are bred to buck aren't having fun.
In fact, E-N researcher Mike Knoop reports the Express-News hasn't explored that angle in its rodeo coverage since 2000.
So consider this an acknowledgement that the rodeo is kinder to people than animals. Rodeo fans and cowpokes will complain about Land's purple prose when they read this, but I'll let her have the last word on this, the rodeo's last day." |
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Tiger's Tour in Houston |
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In some ways, the Tiger's arrival in Houston became a repeat of what happened in San Antonio. There were no demonstrations of outrage by people protective of the "Texas tradition" of rodeos. None whatsoever!
On Monday, Feburary 19, the Tiger's crew was on radio talk show host and animal activist Janice Blue's show Go Vegan Texas! to talk about rodeo. Besides talking about rodeo animal abuse, we had the pleasure of talking about the legal problems of now former PRCA commissioner Troy Ellerman stemming from his admitted crimes, which include Obstruction of Justice, Contempt of Court, and Filing a False Declaration. On the show I predicted that Ellerman would soon be out, and little did I know that at that very time Ellerman was tendering his resignation, since the PRCA's board didn't have the guts or decency to fire him. Read more about the Ellerman/PRCA scandal on SHARK's site HERE.
You can listen to this radio show in the archives by clicking here http://archive.kpft.org/. Then scroll down to Monday, Feb. 19, 2007 and choose "Play" or "Download" the Go Vegan Texas! program.
 That night the Tiger was on the streets of Houston. To the credit of the Houston police department, and unlike their counterparts in San Antonio, the Houston cops were at all times professional, and we saw quite a number of them.
Above, the Tiger outside AT&T's office in Houston--clearly rattling company employees, although once again the execs stayed silent.
Our second night out the Tiger circled the Toyota Center, where a Christina Aguilara concert was scheduled. This brought out many thousands of young people, and in many cases their parents. The Tiger's presence was very educational for the attendees, and there was no one who gave any support for the rodeo. As mentioned earlier, the dozens of police on hand did their jobs, and in no way attempted to hinder our efforts. The following evening we first drove around the AT&T office building in Houston, and from there we traveled again to the perimeter of the Toyota Center before a Houston Rockets basketball game. Again, thousands of people learned the truth about rodeo.
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| Texas Trip Highlights Expanded Plan |
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In the past, our efforts against rodeo were mainly geared toward documentation during the summer, and using our Tiger to expose the cruelty at various venues, including the headquarters and other properties of various corporate sponsors. This is a plan that has worked well. However, even good plans can be improved on. One thing that I have learned in my nationwide travels in the Tiger is that the perceived support of rodeos in places like Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and even Texas are a hoax. The Tiger has been to all those areas and more, and the supposedly biggest areas for rodeo support aren't very supportive at all! This experience on the streets is in line with the recent Gallup poll that show that rodeo doesn't even register on the American radar of sporting events - not even in the "cowboy" West.
 Our trip to Texas, and seeing the lack of support for rodeos in San Antonio and Houston, has given rise to planning an additional effort that will give us a virtual year-round open season on rodeos. There are a number of major indoor rodeos that are held in big cities during the winter months. These cities include Denver, CO, Tucson, AZ, and San Antonio, Houston, Austin and Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX. With a well- planned appearance, we can put a lot of pressure on the media to do its job for a change, and report the "other side" of rodeos. Those who absolutely refuse, like the San Antonio Express-News, will be "outed" as rodeo rags, and we'll include them on our www.MediaVillains.com web site.
Houston radio talk show host Janice Blue is on board with our idea, and we hope to link up with a great many other local activists in our target cities. I am extremely excited about this plan, although it will take more work from SHARK operatives and more money. But the pressure that could result from the Tiger showing up during these big rodeos could counteract millions of dollars worth of propaganda and hype from the rodeo mafia, and could force media to do its job. If you are in the cities listed, I hope you will contact us and sign on to this important effort.
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| SHARK Revisits the Baylor Bears |
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Those of you who have been SHARK supporters for several years will well remember the struggle we all shared to improve the lives of Joy and Lady, two bears held captive as live "mascots" at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
At right, Joy, Lady's older sister, relaxes on a fake rock.
The Tiger's trip to San Antonio brought us right through Waco, so we stopped to see the new bear habitat that was built as a result of the campaign that was spearheaded by SHARK and included the support and involvement of the Austin Zoo, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX, and other humane organizations and animal sanctuaries. It was the first opportunity we had to see the new structure since it was built.
 There were positives and negatives about the visit. Both of the bears have grown, a lot. Lady, who was just a baby when we first saw her, is almost as big as Joy, who is Lady's sister by an earlier litter to the same captive parents. Both seemed physically healthy.
Joy and Lady together. They were once kept apart.
Generally, the facility is far better than what the bears had before. Gone is the rock and cement bowl habitat that the bears endured, as is the view of humans from above that was one of the many stressing factors for the bears. The habitat now has dirt and grass, and the waterfall that is in this habitat is not nearly as loud as it predecessor. There are two main areas to the habitat, so the bears can get away from the noise of the waterfall altogether if they wish.
There are two small private areas where the bears can seemingly get away from people if they wish. Actually, those areas are fitted with smoked glass that allows people to still view the bears. This seems harmless so long as the bears truly cannot see anyone at all through the glass. We don't know if that is the case, and did not see the bears use the private areas during the time we were there, which lasted for about half an hour.
 Unfortunately, both bears exhibited some repetitive behavior. Joy's behavior was the same as what she exhibited back when SHARK was campaigning, and this will likely continue throughout her life if she remains in a small facility. I was disturbed to see that Lady also exhibited some repetitive behavior, although given the small size of the habitat this is probably inevitable. The habitat, though a great deal better than its predecessor and likely better than a lot of accredited zoos, is still too small. Above, Joy can be seen inside the new habitat.
On the plus side, informational plaques at the facility indicated that the bears are no longer fed junk food, and that the school plans to keep them for their natural lifetime. There are no more loud, wild parties at the habitat, and higher fences and glass windows give the bears better protection than before.
I was happy to see how much improvement there has been, but sorry that it still is not what it should be. While those beautiful young bears may not realize what you all did to help them, they have benefited nonetheless, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you helped us accomplish.
To see photos, video, and learn more about history of SHARK's Baylor Bear Abuse campaign, Click Here. | |
Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and Your SHARK Team
p.s. Please remember to tell your friends and family about AT&T/Cingular Wireless' refusal to stop financing animal abuse. Then go to www.ATTcruelty.com to contact this Corporate Thug!
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