On Thursday night, The Scope in downtown Norfolk was surrounded.

Countless animal rights activists were armed with posters, leaflets, and one common goal: to let Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus know that we won’t tire until the world knows of the abuse under the big top. PETA employees and local volunteers covered every inch of The Scope’s city block, and not one circus attendee donned the doors on opening night without first being exposed to Ringling’s dirty secret.

What most people don’t realize is that behind the swinging trapeze and bearded ladies lies violence and unimaginable cruelty. Undercover video footage shows elephants being chained inside filthy boxcars for an average of 26 hours straight hours (and often 60 to 70 hours while the circus travels). The grim footage also shows routine beatings and abuse to the elephants, in order to force them to perform tricks. Many former Ringling employees have become whistle-blowers and exposed the truth behind the glitter; one man even released pictures and testimony of Ringling trainers cruelly wrestling baby elephants using ropes, sharp hooks, and electric shocks.

Last year, I walked beside the elephants in Hampton as they traveled from the circus venue to their cramped boxcars. Holding each other’s tails as they marched on, the sadness was palpable. As the elephants were loaded into the train where they were likely going to remain in chains, solitude and filth for the next day or more, I stood across the street with my fellow activists, holding signs for the Ringling employees to read. My heart broke with each smirk and remark they made to us as it reminded me how little I could relate to some humans. Sometimes I naively forget that not all people feel compassion as they should, and this experience was a cruel reminder.

Despite the sadness in the air, Thursday night’s protest was inspiring; being surrounded by my co-workers in solidarity, knowing that we were making a difference and educating passerby on such a critical issue. Sure there was the occasional driver who would throw us a middle finger and shout offensive comments (as there are at any protest), but the vast majority of the people flashed smiles, thumbs up, and supportive comments. Many others became enlightened on the issue for the first time. Each activist at the demonstration was polite, professional, and extremely friendly, even to our aggressive opposers. Our presence was massive and it was an honor to be part of the successful and vigilant machine that is PETA.