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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Outside the Kingston Armory on Monday, Voice of the Animals was conducting its annual protest of the use of wild animals in the circus.</p><p>Inside the armory, the 69th Shrine Circus was about to begin its week-long booking, with performers, volunteers and animals preparing for the 1:30 p.m. show to start.</p><p>A group of 58 children from Mountain Top Kids Pre-School were among the first patrons to find their seats. As they settled in with cotton candy, candy apples and popcorn, the children were asked what they were looking froward to at the circus.</p><p>&#8220;Lions,&#8221; one said. &#8220;Tigers, elephants, ponies and clowns,&#8221; others said.</p><p>Silvie Pomicter, president of the local Voice of the Animals group, led a group of about a dozen people &#8212; including a demonstrator in an elephant costume &#8212; holding signs in quiet protest against the opening of the circus.</p><p>Pomicter said there have been recent inroads for groups like hers. She pointed to New Jersey, the first state in the U.S. to ban all wild animals in traveling circuses. Pomicter said she and all animal activists are hopeful other states will soon follow.</p><p>Pomicter said in December 2017, Pittsburgh City Council passed an ordinance limiting tools that can be used to care for exotic animals, banning the use of prods, whips, muzzles, shocking devices, bull hooks, baseball bats, or any other device that could cause pain to animals. She said many other states are considering similar bans.</p><p>Pomicter was quick to note that circus animals are usually taken from their mothers at an early age.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re here to educate people about animal cruelty in the circus,&#8221; she said. &#8220;In the wild, elephants don;t ever stand on their heads, bears don&#8217;t ride bicycles and lions and tigers never jump through fiery hoops. The only way they do these tricks is because they are beaten and whipped to perform for humans.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Show goes on</strong></p><p>Billy Martin, the man whose name is on the circus marquee, is the ringmaster for the circus. He said he has been in the circus business for 40 years and he has never seen any animals abused by their trainers.</p><p>&#8220;We understand that (the protesters) are exercising their First Amendment rights, but it is also our right to put on this show,&#8221; Martin said. &#8220;There is no animal cruelty happening. This is a great circus and the fans will totally enjoy it.&#8221;</p><p>Martin said there are a lot of new acts this year and many of the established acts have new routines. For instance, Martin said the Flying Cortes trapeze act boasts a triple somersault; a daring cyclist pedals a 25-foot high unicycle; and &#8220;The Human Arrow&#8221; will be set on fire and shot from a cannon.</p><p>And there will be elephant and camel rides, lions and tigers, ponies and much more, including an opportunity to get a picture with a large snake.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s great family entertainment,&#8221; Martin said.</p><p>John Richards, service chairman for the Irem Shrine, said about 13,000 free admission tickets will be distributed to school groups, Scout groups and groups of challenged adults.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great show,&#8221; Richards said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the official kickoff to spring.&#8221;</p><p>Richards said proceeds from the circus go to the Irem uniform units that participate in many events to raise money fro the Irem Shrine hospitals.</p><p>The kids from the Mountain Top Kids Pre-School couldn&#8217;t wait for the show to begin. Kate Smolenak, supervisor, said they bring a group every year.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a big trip for them,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They love it.&#8221;</p><p>Smolenak said the children bring their own money for food and souvenirs.</p><p>&#8220;They can&#8217;t wait for the show to begin,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Pomicter nevertheless questioned the need for animals in the circus.</p><p>&#8221;What kind of species are we?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Where is the humanity in humans running a circus? The circus chains and shackles these wild animals and carts them all over the country in 5-foot by 5-foot box carts, and trucks.</p><p>&#8220;They should be enjoying life with their mothers and families in the wild,&#8221; she said.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Elephant rides are a favorite for early arrivals at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Elephant rides are a favorite for early arrivals at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Aerialists perform at the Irem Shrine Circus opening show on Monday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Aerialists perform at the Irem Shrine Circus opening show on Monday morning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Unicyclists take over the three rings at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Unicyclists take over the three rings at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sienna Mason, 3, claps for the Chicago Boyz Tumbling act at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus5.jpg</photo3><caption3>Sienna Mason, 3, claps for the Chicago Boyz Tumbling act at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Siberian Tigers are seen at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus6.jpg</photo4><caption4>Siberian Tigers are seen at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus7.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A unicyclist juggles fire at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus7.jpg</photo5><caption5>A unicyclist juggles fire at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption5><photoCredit5>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Protest1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Members of Voice of the Animals are seen protesting outside of Kingston Armory on Monday during the opening of the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Protest1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Members of Voice of the Animals are seen protesting outside of Kingston Armory on Monday during the opening of the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption6><photoCredit6>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Protest2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Members of Voice of the Animals are seen protesting outside of Kingston Armory on Monday during the opening of the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Protest2.jpg</photo7><caption7>Members of Voice of the Animals are seen protesting outside of Kingston Armory on Monday during the opening of the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption7><photoCredit7>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lucas Kromes 4 and Avery Toniatti 4, of Mountain Top Kids Pre-School, enjoy cotton candy during the Irem Shrine Circus in Kingston on Monday Afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040318Circus4.jpg</photo8><caption8>Lucas Kromes 4 and Avery Toniatti 4, of Mountain Top Kids Pre-School, enjoy cotton candy during the Irem Shrine Circus in Kingston on Monday Afternoon. </caption8><photoCredit8>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit8></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>69th Irem Shrine Circus</strong></p><p><strong>What:</strong> 69th annual Irem Shrine Circus</p><p><strong>Where: </strong>109th Artillery Armory, 280 Market St., Wilkes-Barre, next to Kirby Park</p><p><strong>When:</strong> 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 2; 6:30 p.m. April 3; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. April 4; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. April 5; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. April 6 and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 7.</p><p><strong>Tickets:</strong> $8, $11 and $22 on main floor; $13 and $17 in balcony</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Amid protests, curtain goes up on 69th Irem Shrine Circus