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Bogotá Mayor Says Arena For “Activities of Life, Not Death”

November 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

In 2012, the Mayor of Bogotá banned bullfighting following a provocative animal rights campaign. It was a major victory for the community — and, of course, for the bulls.

Anti-bullfight protest in Bogota one month before ban (photo: REUTERS/Fredy Builes)

Anti-bullfight protest in Bogota before Mayor banned them (photo: REUTERS/Fredy Builes)

Pro-bullfight forces have, however, been fighting back ever since. In a show of solidarity with their counterparts in Colombia, bullfighters from around the world staged a rally in Bogotá on November 13th to demand that the Mayor re-open the city’s arena for bullfights.

Hundreds attend pro-bullfight rally in Bogota, Colombia

Hundreds attend pro-bullfighting rally in Bogota, Colombia

In 2012, the Mayor suspended the contract between the city-owned arena and the Bullfighting Corporation of Bogotá, which led to a de-facto ban on bullfights. In spite of mounting support for bullfights, he appears to be resolute in his opposition. In August, when bullfighters went on a hunger strike, he said, “public spaces should be used for activities of life, not death.”

In 2013, two bullfighters were killed in Northern Colombia.

The pro-bullfight rally in mid-November was held two months after Colombia’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Mayor’s ban on bullfights violates people’s “right to artistic expression.” In its ruling, the Court gave the city a “six-month period to resume bullfighting.” As a next move, the Mayor will likely support a public referendum that, if passed, would supersede the court’s decision and officially outlaw bullfighting in the city.

The activists will not accept the return of bullfights lying down. Or, perhaps they will protest the possible return of bullfights by lying down.

Bullfight protest in Colombia

Activist lie down in street to protest bullfights in Colombia

Your Turn

Please sign the petition to oppose the re-introduction of bullfights in Bogotá, Colombia.



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TheirTurn.net Comments

  1. Georgina Burns says:

    Eso no es cultura, cultura es civilizacion, deberiamos tener una repulsa
    absoluta hacia la gente que defiende estas barbaries.

    I agree Bullfighting is culture…..A CULTURE OF CRUELTY……….

  2. joe galka says:

    Truly barbaric, truly foolish

  3. Elaine cuttler says:

    Please please don’t bring back the torture of bull fighting. I so respect you and your decision.

  4. Nancy says:

    Bull baiting is atrocious and in no way a sport. I don’t understand why the women had to take the onus off the bulls and onto their breasts. Makes no sense whatsoever. Did the men reveal their genitals? Why isn’t there a picture of this?

  5. blanca flores says:

    Why is it hard to be compassionate?

  6. MJ says:

    STOP this horrific act. This is NOT a sport. It’s idiots killing innocent animals. Go fight each other if you want to see bloodshed. Just cruel & barbaric.

  7. Tammy Koross says:

    Barbaric and midevil

  8. MARY says:

    YEARS AGO, I WENT TO MY ONE AND ONLY BULLFIGHT IN MADRID. TOTALLY DISGUSTING. I FOUND I WAS ROOTING VERY HARD FOR THE BULL. A SPORT IS WHEN EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO WIN. BULLFIGHTING IS THE SAME AS A BUTCHER SHOP. THIS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED ALL OVER THE WORLD. I WOULD BE ASHAMED IF THIS WAS OUR NATIONAL SPORT.

  9. Animalover says:

    The hideous, primitive torture of animals is not “art”! Bullfighting is big business, with the animals having no say, no voice in the fate that awaits every bull in a bullfight! It is clear that we have reached a time in the “evolution” of our species, where there exists a great divide between those with conscience, clarity and compassion and those who continue to dwell in the dark, dank caves of inhumanity, ignorance, cruelty and indifference. How much longer can we wait???” Ignorance, superstition, archaic traditions/beliefs and infantile, narcissistic egos, are the enemies of truth, enlightenment, social progress and change!

    Bogota, say NO TO BULLFIGHTS!

  10. Bull fighting and other atrocities towards animals for human entertainment needs to end. Pure and simple.

Comments are closed.