Worcester rodeo draws crowds and animal cruelty protests
WORCESTER – Among the city council’s efforts limiting animal performances in the cityOn Saturday night, February 21, hundreds of people flocked to downtown Worcester for a show during the tour. Bulls, Bands and Barrels – part concert, part rodeo extravaganza.
The three-part event started on Saturday, February 21 at 18.30 with bull riding and barrel racing, followed by a concert by country stars Jon Pardi and Ashley Cooke.
Attendees lined up in groups to enter the DCU Center next to the statue of the city’s most famous resident, Bob Cousy, and were excited to see a different type of sport coming to the area.
Hundreds of people flocked to downtown Worcester on Saturday night, Feb. 21, for a show on the Bulls, Bands and Barrels tour, part concert, part rodeo extravaganza.
“We had to come because it was a Western event in New England,” said Audra Mulligan, who grew up riding horses in the Midwest but has since moved to Stafford, Connecticut. “We’re all about this.”
“It’s such a fun, different thing to do, especially here,” said Bethany Trybus, who came from the Springfield area with two friends; The trio were all wearing a mix of fringe and denim. “You can’t do this all the time.”
‘Only bullies ride bulls’
But not everyone was happy to see the city take on its wild, violent Worcester alter ego. Armed with banners and leaflets, about a dozen people lined up parallel to those attending the event to protest what they said was animal cruelty. Before entering the dirt-filled arena at the DCU centre, attendees were greeted with signs saying “screw the rodeo” and “only bullies ride bulls”.
The group, made up of activists affiliated with the Facebook group “Positive Change Social Volunteer Group for Animals”, says the bulls were forced to jump using prods and side straps.
Activists affiliated with the Facebook group “Positive Change Social Volunteer Group for Animals” stand outside the DCU Center during the Bulls, Bands, & Barrels show on Saturday, February 21, saying bulls were being tortured by being poked and using side straps.
They support an order that Vice Mayor Khrystian E. King introduced to the City Council in November to “prohibit torture, suffering, and the use of any painful, injurious techniques or devices that would promote the performance of animals at rodeos or rodeo-related events in the city.”
Karen Bacon, who manages the volunteer group, rejected the claim on the subject. Bulls, Tapes and Barrels website that bulls are bred to make money.
“At Bulls, Bands and Barrels, all animal athletes are treated with as much, if not more, respect than the human athletes who ride them,” the organization says of its animal policy.
Bacon disagrees.
“The bulls get nervous because they are uncomfortable,” Bacon said. “They won’t randomly object. This is sarcasm turning into fun. It’s not fair.”
Telegram & Gazette was not allowed into the event and is unsure whether side straps or prods were used on the bulls.
Protesters clad in coats and gloves said they were not bothered by the small number of people wearing jeans.
“Are we going to change everyone’s mind? No,” said Denise Tetraut, who volunteers with the group. “But maybe we can change a few people’s minds.”
This article was first published on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester rodeo: Crowds attend, activists protest animal cruelty
