PETA plans Butte protest with 20-foot 'crying elephant' after viral 2024 circus escape

PETA announced on Friday its plans to protest the upcoming Jordan World Circus event in Butte on April 14.

In an email to the Montana Standard, a spokesperson for PETA, also known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the animal rights group's supporters will deploy a 20-foot-tall "crying elephant" outside the Butte Civic Center during the circus.

PETA's sights are set on Butte after a 2024 incident when Viola, a circus elephant in her 50s, escaped and was filmed strolling down Harrison Avenue. The escape garnered international press attention and, according to PETA, resulted in a citation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Carson & Barnes Circus for “not properly securing her and failing to protect her from potential injury.”

It was reported at the time that the same elephant had previously escaped 2010 and 2014.

“While some people run away to join the circus, Viola the elephant keeps trying to run away from the circus, where she’s spent a lifetime suffering in chains and servitude,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Jordan World Circus to end these archaic and cruel animal acts, and for everyone to stay away until they do.”

This is just one of many stops for the organization's "crying elephant." The organization has been following the circus company around the country holding repeat protests outside circus events, according to PETA news releases on the organization's website.

The protest will be held at 3:30 p.m. outside the Butte Civic Center at 1340 Harrison Ave.