Police disrupt Wheaton circus protest

If attention is what Ellen Nafziger was looking for, the Wheaton woman certainly got more than she bargained for while standing outside the DuPage County Fairgrounds.

Nafziger and about 20 protesters gathered Wednesday outside the entrance to the fairgrounds to protest the opening day of the Carson and Barnes Family Circus.

Carrying signs that read "Stop the Animal Abuse" and "Free Pain Inside," the group wanted to send a message to motorists traveling along Manchester Road that they believe the circus mistreats its elephants.

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent notices to area media outlets and posted a message on its Web site last week urging people to avoid attending the show.

The organization is objecting to the circus' use of bullhooks, a stick with a metal hook at the end, arguing the device promotes cruelty to elephants.

Nafziger, a past PETA volunteer and donor, said she learned about the circus act late last week and spent the past two days urging friends, family and area businesses to boycott the shows.

"I can't imagine why this community would allow such a group to set up shop," Nafziger said. "They in no way reflect the positive appreciation of life we rear our kids to have."

As cars traveled down Manchester Road, Nafziger and her fellow protesters made sure their presence was known. On more than one occasion, they walked onto the street to flash the signs to oncoming motorists and were within inches of several vehicles driving into -- and out of -- the fairgrounds.

Some motorists honked their horns in support even as a circus employee dressed as a clown tried to compete for attention along the road.

After roughly 30 minutes, a Wheaton police officer arrived on the scene and informed Nafziger she would need to rein in her troops.

The officer told Nafziger the police department received a complaint about the commotion, worried it may cause a distraction.

Sure enough, within a few minutes of the Wheaton police officer's arrival, a teenager -- apparently caught off guard by the signs -- swerved his Toyota 4Runner into the rear of a parked Lexus SUV along Manchester Road, just feet away from the fairgrounds entrance.

The owner of the Lexus, Jayne Miller, was at the circus watching the show with her grandchildren when she heard her vehicle's license plate number announced over the intercom.

"I guess I'm glad the protesters didn't have anything directly to do with the accident," Miller said. "It wouldn't have helped their cause."

Miller said she heard the criticisms leveled against the Carson and Barnes Family Circus, but still decided to attend Wednesday's event.

"The animals all seemed to be healthy looking enough, and the trainers were certainly loving them up," Miller said. "I didn't see any indication these animals were being mistreated."

Miller's husband, Rich, wasn't quite as cool about the circumstances leading up to the accident.

"The police ought to arrest them," he said of the protesters. "They're causing a hazard on the roads."