PETA Member Pleads Not Guilty to 'Over-protesting'
Video by Sarah Windham
A PETA member pleaded not guilty on Thursday to "over-protesting" at the Pasadena Rose Parade.
Other supporters of PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, rallied outside the Pasadena Courthouse to support Amanda Slyter's arraignment.
The court protesters held signs promoting the freedom of orca whales and asking SeaWorld to stop their exploitation.
Slyter protested SeaWorld's float at Pasadena's Rose Parade in November. She claimed her actions were "crimes of necessity" that she committed to save lives.
According to a PETA press release, the float's depiction of whales in a happy environment contradicted what the activists viewed as SeaWorld's confinement and mistreatment of Orcas.
"It ruins the Rose Parade's happy image to allow SeaWorld to promote its miserable captive-orca shows during this family-friendly event," said Delcianna Winders, PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement.
According to Andrea Fox, the communications coordinator for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Rose Parade considered SeaWorld's float a creative expression of the parade's overall theme.
"The Tournament of Roses viewed SeaWorld's float as illustrating the wonder of sea life and inspiring millions to learn more about our oceans," said Fox.
Protests in support of orca whales have gained popularity in the wake of "Blackfish," a documentary that explores the effect of SeaWorld's confinement on Orca behavior.
Let's face it, SeaWorld is nuts if they think swimming giants such as orcas belong in a body of water that would be more appropriate for smaller fish, AND peta should stop being 107 cards short of a full deck if they think they can get away with being twice as dumb as what they protest!
People Eating Tasty Animals: Stupid rotten bullies for animals since 1980