Animal rights activists set to demonstrate Saturday at the Kane County Fair's rodeo

Protesters will not be allowed to use any cameras.

Friday, July 17, 1998

Kane County Chronicle (IL)

By TOM SCHLUETER

GENEVA – Animal rights activist Steve Hindi met Thursday with St. Charles police and representatives of the Kane County Fair Board to discuss Hindi's group's protest of the rodeo.

Hindi, president of the Chicago Animal Rights Coalition, said his group will be at the fair from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday to protest the two shows of the Big Hat Rodeo.

Earlier this year, Hindi was unsuccessful in trying to persuade the Kane County Board or the St. Charles City Council to pass animal cruelty laws that would have hampered the rodeo's ability to put on its performances.

At the June meeting of the County Board, Hindi turned an electronic cattle prod on himself to demonstrate what he said was the device's ability to inflict pain.

Animal rights activists cite the use of cattle prods and bucking straps as inhumane to the animals.

Furthermore, Hindi alleges rodeo workers throw dust in animals' eyes and kick them.

"People have a right to know what's going on at the rodeo," Hindi said.

He said police are forbidding his group to use still or video cameras during their protest.

During the debates at the County Board, rodeo enthusiasts said the animals are well-treated, and all practices have the approval of the state's veterinarian.