Animal rights activists took to the streets of Mexico City on Sunday to protest the reintroduction of bullfighting to the capital after a nearly two-year hiatus. Chanting slogans such as "Torture is not art, it is not culture" and "yes to bulls, no to bullfighting," the demonstrators expressed their opposition near Plaza México, the renowned 42,000-capacity bullring considered one of the largest in the world.
Prominent Mexican animal rights group APASDEM shared several videos of the protests, emphasizing that "the torture of innocent living beings is about to start." The bullfight held on Sunday marked the first such event in almost two years, according to the Plaza México Facebook account, which enthusiastically celebrated the return of this controversial spectacle in a series of posts.
While expressing their support for the revival of bullfighting, the posts from Plaza México also highlighted the festive and family-friendly atmosphere surrounding the event. "Bullfighting is more alive than ever, and our fans are making the most of an enjoyable family atmosphere," read one of the posts, reflecting the divided opinions surrounding this traditional practice.
The suspension of bullfighting in 2022 was due to an ongoing legal case, but in December, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that the events could resume, much to the dismay of animal rights activists. Six bulls were fought during Sunday's event, taking place in a bullring adorned with the word "libertad" (meaning "freedom" in Spanish) – a stark juxtaposition to the protest occurring just outside the gates.
Riot police were deployed to line the streets surrounding the bullring as black-clad protesters attempted to breach the fences. Shouting their opposition to the attendees and expressing their outrage at the spectacle, the protesters made their message clear with spray-painted anti-bullfighting slogans on the surrounding walls.
Although bullfighting has been a longstanding tradition in Mexico, opposition to the practice has been growing in recent years. In 2013, Sonora state became the first of Mexico's 32 states to ban bullfighting, and now a total of four states have implemented similar prohibitions. In response to the mounting concern, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced in December that he would explore the possibility of holding a referendum on the future of bullfighting in Mexico City.
Beyond Mexico, bullfights take place in seven other countries, including Spain, Colombia, France, and Venezuela. The highly controversial nature of these events, steeped in tradition for some and condemned as animal cruelty by others, continues to fuel impassioned debates both locally and internationally. As Mexico City grapples with its complex relationship with bullfighting, the protests and ongoing discussions raise questions about the future and ethical implications of this divisive practice.