This ritual, which played out in Anaheim’s council chambers this week, has gone on for years in city halls nationwide. But what is different this year is that the activists are armed with more direct evidence of the abuse than they’ve ever had before.

And this new evidence seems to be resonating with political leaders, including those in Orange County and Sacramento. But not so much in Anaheim.

Among the revelations changing officials’ minds are detailed accounts and pictures of the abuse left behind by a former circus worker who died late last year. The evidence was given to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and was the subject of this Washington Post story in December.

The story of the dead man’s experiences, to at least some degree, are helping PETA and other animal rights groups change policy.

Tuesday night, while the activists were showing the Anaheim City Council photos of alleged abuse of baby elephants, the Sacramento City Council was adopting an ordinance to regulate the treatment of animals in visiting circuses and rodeos.

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