CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : DALY CITY : Animal Rights Protest at Circus

Three animal rights protesters dressed as clowns and shouting slogans were arrested in the center ring of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after they chained themselves to a high-wire support rope during an intermission on opening night. Circus workers used bolt cutters to snip the protesters’ chains. The clowns were taken to the San Mateo county jail and booked on suspicion of trespassing, disturbing the peace and conspiracy, police said. Those arrested at the Cow Palace were identified as Alden McElrath, 41, of Oakland; Lillian Carswell, 21, of Berkeley, and Damien Pierce, 26, of Albany. The disruption of the circus was brief. Before the performance, members of animal rights groups demonstrated outside the arena and passed out leaflets accusing the circus of animal abuse.