On Tuesday, March 18, lawmakers in the Mexican capital overwhelmingly voted to ban violent bullfighting. This sparked outrage among supporters of the entertainment and joy among animal rights activists. This is reported by UNN with reference to CBS.
Details
Bullfighting has long been a traditional entertainment in Spain and many Latin American countries, but it has been criticized for animal cruelty, as about 180,000 bulls are killed in bullfights worldwide every year. City lawmakers met animal rights activists halfway and voted for "non-violent bullfighting."
From now on, the legislation prohibits killing bulls and using sharp objects that can injure animals. The new law also sets time limits on how long bulls can be in the ring. All of this is part of an initiative called "bullfighting without violence."
The authorities thus wanted to reach a compromise between the two sides of the discussion after many years of controversy, but this decision caused angry protests from fans of "traditional bullfighting" and matadors. They came out with signs saying "Being a fan of la fiesta brava (bullfighting) is not a crime, it is a matter of pride" to the local Congress, and some of them tried to break through a police barricade near the building.
At the same time, animal rights activists and lawmakers who promoted this bill came out on the steps of Congress surrounded by police with plush bull toys.
"We prefer this because, without a doubt, it is a huge step in animal protection," said Sofia Morín, an animal rights activist from the organization "Culture without Torture, Mexico without Bullfighting," which leads the initiative to change the laws.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada supported animal rights activists and stated that this decision would turn the Mexican capital into a place "where animal rights are respected."
Previous attempts to ban bullfighting in Mexico
In June 2022, a judge in Mexico City ruled that bullfights violate the rights of city residents to a healthy environment free from violence. He completely banned the practice and closed the world's largest bullfighting arena. At the time, advocates hailed it as a victory. However, bullfighters said it dealt an economic blow to the city.
According to the National Association of Fighting Bull Breeders in Mexico, bullfighting creates 80,000 direct jobs and 146,000 indirect jobs across the country, and the industry generates about $400 million annually. In 2023, the Mexican Supreme Court was forced to overturn the ban due to numerous protests. Bullfighting arenas were again filled with fans of the so-called "fiesta brava."
On March 18, 2025, speaking before the city congress, Green Party deputy Jesús Sesma admitted that the decision to keep bullfighting would anger some citizens.
There was a golden mean to continue these bullfighting spectacles, but now without violence. To those families who feel disappointed today, we are here to say that no one has lost their job
Practice of other countries
A bloodless form of bullfighting has existed in California for many years. There, during the performance, Velcro is attached to the backs of the bulls, and the bullfighters on horseback try to attach poles to the animals. Then the foot "forcados" enter the ring to try to literally grab the bull by the horns, but no blood is shed.
Recall
In 2024, the Colombian Congress passed a bill banning bullfighting throughout the country from 2027, with a three-year transition period to provide assistance to those whose livelihoods depend on the practice.