Reno Rodeo bans cameras
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Int'l. Fund for Horses June 2013

According to SHARK president Steve Hindi, “The Reno Rodeo had to make a choice – stop the abuse, or stop the documentation of the abuse. They obviously have chosen the latter.”

RENO (June 3, 2013) — After the Reno Rodeo was exposed shocking horses for two consecutive years by SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) investigators, rodeo officials have chosen to ban not just video cameras, but also many still cameras.

According to SHARK president Steve Hindi, “The Reno Rodeo had to make a choice – stop the abuse, or stop the documentation of the abuse. They obviously have chosen the latter.”

In a letter to Reno Rodeo Association President John Tipton, Hindi has registered his disgust with the new policy, and is asking how cell phones, which have the capacity to take video, will be handled.

Hindi also calls out Reno Rodeo for their false claim that cameras are not allowed at Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeos, stating: “In fact, with only a rare exception, one will find plenty of video cameras at PRCA rodeos. Those who ban cameras obviously have something to hide, and so it is most unfortunate that the Reno Rodeo has chosen to join those ranks.” The truth is, the PRCA has no policy relating to video cameras, that decision lies entirely with the individual rodeo committee. It speaks volumes that the Reno Rodeo won’t ‘cowboy up’ and instead tries to pass the buck to the PRCA instead of being honest and standing behind their own misguided policy.

The Reno decision comes on the heels of another rodeo in Oregon, which is following a similar path. The Big Loop Rodeo, in Jordan Valley, Oregon, chose to allow rodeo supporters to film the rodeo, but ordered anyone they chose to stop recording and leave the grounds. The media was not allowed to film. One individual, a SHARK investigator, was arrested for doing nothing but filming.

Hindi went on to say, “The rodeo industry is obviously tired of being continuously exposed for animal abuse, and since the industry has no intention of stopping the abuse, it will instead take a page from totalitarian regimes. They are clearly willing to go to any lengths to subvert the truth, no matter how un-American that behavior.”

The new Reno Rodeo Policy can be read here: http://www.renorodeo.com/p/Events/Items-Not-Allowed-on-RR-Grounds  


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