On 25th March 2026, PETA supporters protested outside the Clatsop County Fair & Expo in Astoria, Oregon, US, where Jordan World Circus was scheduled to use Viola, an elderly elephant who has spent decades in captivity. According to PETA, Viola was taken from her family in Asia as a calf more than 50 years ago and has since been forced to perform across the US, including with Carson & Barnes Circus, which supplies elephants to Jordan World Circus.
The demonstration is part of a nationwide campaign following the circus and exposing what activists describe as the ongoing exploitation of Viola and other nonhuman animals used in its shows. Protesters planned to gather at 6 p.m. at Gate 1 of the fairgrounds to reach attendees before they entered, handing out leaflets and speaking with families to encourage them not to support the spectacle.
PETA’s managing director of captive wildlife, Debbie Metzler, explained how previous demonstrations have already influenced people’s decisions, saying, “Every single one of these (circus) demos has had individuals who did not know there were going to be elephants and were appalled…There have been people who have actually decided to turn away.” Although Clatsop County prohibits bullhooks, Metzler warned that this does not mean the elephants are treated kindly, saying, “The elephants know to expect pain if they step out of line,” and suggesting that handlers may still rely on other instruments or conditioning to control them. PETA reports that Viola has attempted to escape several times, from as far back as 1975 to as recently as 2024, when she ran through traffic in Butte, Montana, before being recaptured. Metzler described her plight by saying, “She’s the most frequently used and abused elephant in circuses today,” adding, “These animals are geriatric…They’ve been doing this for decades. The life of a circus wears them down.”
