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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 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-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.

Activist lie down in street to protest bullfights in Colombia

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

Colombia’s constitutional court has ruled that Bogota’s 2012 ban on bullfighting violates people’s “right to artistic expression.” The reversal of the ban is a setback for the local animal rights community and, of course, for the bulls.

In response to the news, Humane Society International said: “Stabbing an animal for entertainment is wrong. Where cruelty starts, culture ends.” In 2013, two participants were killed during bullfights in Northern Colombia.

Colombia judges have ruled that “art” should be protected – even if it constitutes animal torture, apparently. But will they continue defend this bloodsport if more people are killed? To the judges I ask, “How many more people have to die before “right to artistic expression” doesn’t fly?” Bullfighting is among the most barbaric forms of animal torture. Even when the matador is gored and loses the “fight,” the bull is still executed with a sword. Some sport!

Spanish bullfighter in 2010 (photo: Getty)

Activists in Columbia are demanding an end to carriage horse abuse following several incidents in which overheated, malnourished and exhausted horses collapsed in the streets of the tourist city of Cartegena.

Horse-drawn carriages cannot be operated humanely or safely in any urban area, much less in a city like Cartegena that doesn’t regulate the industry and where the drivers are abusing their horses.  Forcing nervous prey animals to haul carriages in the streets with motor vehicles and depriving them of the ability to do anything that comes naturally to them is simply cruel.  And this anachronistic industry needs to be banned. Tradition is never an excuse for the inhumane treatment of animals.  To learn more about the plight of urban carriage horses, please see BLINDERS The Movie.