Photoset from the Kingston Shrine Circus Demonstration. Over 200 people, this demonstration was the largest of the summer and possibly one of the largest Shrine Circus demonstrations in Canadian history. Thank you to the organizers with Kingston Animal Trust!
*If you feel like we missed any crucial photos from the demo let us know!
Posts tagged "Shriners"
"Protesters Target Shrine Circus" (The Whig - Kingston)
“Ahead of the protest Deodato, founder of Kingston Animal Trust, projected the demonstration would bring out over 200 people, which would make it the largest circus protest ever in Canada.”
'Animals part of the 99%' say Occupy Kingston (The Whig)
“No being should suffer for another being’s entertainment and that’s exactly what this is,” he said. “It’s cruel punishment for the purposes of capitalist entertainment.”
This train of thought has allowed for the emergence of the Kingston Animal Rights Affinity under the auspices of Occupy Kingston.
“The reason why we are doing this is because the animals are part of the 99%, just like most of the humans on the planet. People tend to forget that humans are animals,” he said.
WALL OF SHAME #1 - RIK KUBIAK
Previous to this years campaign Rik Kubiak would have been an unlikely candidate for the first entry into our wall of shame. However, as a result of his actions and behavior during the two weekend stay in Etobicoke, Rik Kubiak quickly catapulted himself up the ladder of Shriner shame. Our first interactions with Rik came on Saturday June 30th, 2012 as Rik alleged that demonstrators were trespassing on Woodbine Centre property. This claim would be repeated over the course of two weekends, and eventually end in police officers, on Friday July 6th, instructing Shriners/TZ Productions and Mall Security to leave demonstrators alone as they engaged in a legal, peaceful demonstration. Rik was aware of this command.
When police left on July 6th Rik ignored this request and approached demonstrators taunting them and claiming that they are all “paid” to demonstrate. On July 7th, he followed this up by again confronting demonstrators - repeating “Hey Assholes” as he approached demonstrators at which point he assaulted a demonstrator by grabbing a megaphone and shoving it in their face. After being asked by mall security to leave, Kubiak left, only to utter threats as he walked away, “If that’s what you call assault I will show you assault.” All of this was caught on camera and can be seen here.
Kubiak is retired from the Peel District School board and is currently President of the Bramalea Hillybilly Shrine Club, Chairman/Director of the Rameses Shriners and hired Electrical Designer and Engineer of the Shrine Circus. Rik is a major player in this Circus and a retired educator. He now faces assault charges as a result of the demonstration. We hope his actions, and their consequences, will send a message to all Shrine Circus/TZ Productions staff - YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
Rik can be reached at rik.kubiak@rogers.com
71 Princeton Terrace
Bramalea, On
L6S 3S5
And can be found here on facebook.
Video of the assault of a demonstrator today in Etobicoke by a Shriner. Share and shame!
The Coalition for Circus Animal Freedom is made up of grassroots groups in Ontario who have joined together to organize against Shrine Circus/TZ Productions.
