Casey Affleck's latest role is the voice of a bear

Washington — Fresh off his Oscar for Manchester by the Sea, actor Casey Affleck will be lending his voice to a protest intended to call attention to mistreatment of bears.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will bring a 7-foot-tall animatronic bear with Affleck's voice to the Agriculture Department in Washington on Tuesday.

The stunt is meant to highlight the treatment of captive bears in zoos and circus-style shows. PETA says the Agriculture Department should follow through on a promise to expand protections for bears under the Animal Welfare Act.

#DC: #BernardTheBear voiced by #Oscars winner Casey Affleck joins PETA supporters outside of @USDA to ask them to close cruel roadside zoos. pic.twitter.com/IHgcAtnLbg

— PETA (@peta) March 7, 2017

Affleck says in a statement that bears shouldn't be used for "cruel tourist traps".

Affleck won the Academy Award for best actor last month.