MEXICO: Mexico City’s Monumental Plaza de Toros, the world’s largest bullfighting stadium, hosted its first bullfighting event since the Supreme Court overturned a suspension imposed in June 2022. Cheering spectators filled the arena, witnessing the spectacle that unfolded in the face of ongoing protests outside the stadium. Protesters, some donning bull masks and covered in symbolic blood-red paint, demanded a permanent ban on the centuries-old practice.
Famed Mexican bullfighter Joselito Adame took center stage in Sunday’s event, marking a significant moment since the initial suspension. The inscription in the dirt of the bullring read, “Freedom. Bulls, living culture,” fading gradually through the evening amid the intense displays of bullfighting.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision to revoke the suspension, without providing a definitive ruling on the merits, stirred controversy. Animal rights activists hope for a final decision in their favor in the coming weeks, emphasizing the ethical concerns associated with bullfighting.
Protesters outside the stadium were blocked by police as they voiced their opposition to what they consider a cruel and outdated form of entertainment. The demonstration, under the banner “Torture is neither art nor culture,” gathered at Glorieta de Insurgentes before marching to the bullring.
While spectators inside celebrated the return of bullfighting, including 49-year-old educator Alejandra Diaz, anti-bullfighting groups reiterated their stance against the “barbarity” and “cruelty” involved in the practice. Jeronimo Sanchez, director of the NGO Animal Heroes, expressed strong opposition, emphasizing that bullfights prioritize pleasure through animal torture.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in response to the Supreme Court’s decision, suggested the possibility of a referendum to determine the future of bullfighting in Mexico City. Currently, four out of Mexico’s 32 states have already implemented bans on bullfighting, with debates ongoing about the economic impact and ethical considerations associated with the tradition.
As bullfighting resumes in Mexico City, the clash between cultural tradition, economic interests, and growing concerns for animal welfare continues to fuel a broader societal debate.
