Circus Goes On Despite Protesters

With a visible police presence, a group of animal rights protesters did not disrupt this week’s performances of Circus Vargas in Simi Valley.

Simi Valley Police Lt. Neal Rein said about eight demonstrators showed up Monday for opening night to pass out leaflets opposing the use of circus animals and to carry protest signs near the ticket gates. They did not return the next night.

A dozen police officers on hand ensured the show went on as usual. Circus Vargas is staging its performances at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road through Sunday.

Lewis Jenkins, director of Circus Vargas, said the protesters were the same activists who protested when the circus was in Agoura Hills last week. Five people were arrested for trespassing during one protest, and one was arrested again the next night.

Rein said protesters are allowed to demonstrate as long as they don’t interfere with circus operations. Protesters show up at the circus every year, and so do the police, Rein said.

“They come out here and we come out here,” he said. “As long as they don’t bother anybody, they can do it.”

Animals are a traditional part of Circus Vargas, which Jenkins described as an old-fashioned circus. The director said the circus has no plans to discontinue using elephants, white tigers and other animals.

“[Protesters] have the right to speak, as well as we have our right of running our business,” Jenkins said. “We put on a show. We don’t force [anyone] to come to it. We put on a good show.”