Silent protesters outside PBR event are hoping to offer an alternative perspective

While Prospera Place hosts the Okanagan Professional Bull Riding (PBR) Challenge event on Saturday, Okanagan Animal Save (OAS) protesters will be posted outside the stadium demonstrating in opposition to the event's use of animals.

“We just believe that selective breeding, enslavement, confinement and use of animals is wrong and cruel, that's why we're going to be there,” stated Amy Soranno, part organizer for the (OAS) organization.

“Bulls are sentient beings and they're not here for our entertainment. They exist for their own reasons and belong in their own habitat and not in artificial environments that are created purely for entertainment and profit - it's exploitation and there's no right way to do the wrong thing."

Soranno and the group of demonstrators representing OAS, which is described as a love-based community that promotes non-violence, will silently be protesting on public property on the corner of Cawston Ave. and Water St. from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

They encourage attendees and bystanders to approach them and ask questions about their demonstration or facilitate a friendly discussion.

“We're definitely welcoming conversations with people and we're just hoping to plant seeds so that when people go and watch the bull riding they'll maybe look at it from the bull's perspective and reconsider the next time an event like this happens,” explained Soranno.

OAS is taking all possible steps to deter from stimulating aggression during their demonstration, noting on their Facebook event page that participants must remain respectful and unconfrontational and are restricted from bringing signs that display inappropriate language or messages.

Their protest is also being accompanied by a petition asking that Kelowna follow suit with other cities and countries that have banned events like these from performing in the city.

"They’re forced to perform for our entertainment and it is completely unnecessary," added Soranno, who will be wearing black along with the rest of the anti-rodeo demonstrators present during the silent protest.

In response to the protest occurring outside of Prospera Place, Sean Gleason, Chief Executive Officer of PBR stated to KelownaNow in an email that “the well-being of PBR’s prized bovine athletes is our top priority, and we have a stringent animal welfare policy to ensure the health, safety, welfare and respect of these extraordinary animal athletes. The quality and length of these bulls’ lives far exceeds any bull not fortunate enough to compete in the PBR."

"Contrary to spreading misconceptions, these bulls are not agitated or harmed in any way; they are genetically bred to buck just like racehorses are bred to run fast,” he continued, adding that the PBR organization abides by Animal Welfare Policies to ensure animal safety.