SHARK ACTIVIST VIOLENTLY ARRESTED FOR FILMING AT RODEO
Press release:
Jordan Valley, OR - On Saturday, May 18th, 2013, SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) volunteer Adam Fahnestock was peacefully sitting monitoring the Big Loop Rodeo when rodeo personnel and a Malheur County Sheriff's Deputy approached him. After a very brief conversation, the deputy suddenly grabbed Fahnestock and threw him violently to the ground where rodeo personnel then also set upon him. Fahnestock was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He is currently being held in Malheur County Jail, Vale, OR on a $1000 bail.
Big Loop Rodeo has been under fire from SHARK recently after documentation of a bucking horse breaking its leg in the arena and numerous horses were filmed crashing to the ground was released after the 2012 rodeo. Filming is permitted at the rodeo and many spectators film the events. It is believed Fahnestock was singled out for attack because Big Loop Rodeo officials are upset over the video of a horse breaking its leg being released, and disturbing footage of the horse-tripping event went viral creating massive public outcry to ban the event.
SHARK president, Steve Hindi said, "This is clearly an abuse of the law and an example of the "good old-boy network" that exists in the rodeo world. We will fight these false and retaliatory charges vigorously and continue to expose animal abuse at rodeos."
SHARK'S video of horse tripping at the 2012 Big Loop Rodeo inspired Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton to introduce a horse-tripping ban. Senate Bill 835 is currently being considered after a public hearing was held on Monday, May 13th, 2013.
Graphic footage of the incident of the horse breaking its leg can be seen here:
Big Loop Rodeo Breaks Horse's Leg
Video of horse tripping at the 2012 Jordan Valley Big Loop Rodeo, which inspired SB 835, can be seen here:
"SHARK captured video at the 2012 Jordan Valley Big Loop they believe is animal cruelty. The images have caused controversy and because of that, those with the rodeo chose to not allow cameras inside the arena anymore.
Oregon Senator Mark Hass a Democrat out of Beaverton, was inspired by SHARK's video to introduce Senate Bill 835 that would put an end to the horse roping event."
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"Kindness and compassion towards all living beings is a mark of a civilized society. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are all cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves." - Cesar Chavez, civil rights and labor leader, founder of the United Farm Workers
