Protesters Demonstrate Outside of Safari Hunting Convention

BROOKLYN PARK - Demonstrators have protested outside of a safari hunting group's convention in a northern Minneapolis suburb.

Protesters from the Minnesota-based Animal Rights Coalition and Minnesota Animal Liberation held signs outside of the Safari Club International's annual convention in Brooklyn Park Saturday. There were no arrests.

The demonstrators held signs displaying slogans such as "Killing Isn't Conservation" and alluding to the event's connection to Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist whose killing of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe caused an international uproar last summer.

President Ryan Burt says the Minnesota Safari Club International is not connected to Palmer.

Organizer Kim Socha of Minnesota Animal Liberation called trophy hunting an "egregious cruelty."

Zimbabwe officials cleared Palmer in October, saying he didn't break the country's hunting laws.