In a landmark vote, Mexico City’s assembly has banned the killing and injuring of bulls, introducing a non-violent alternative to traditional bullfighting.
Mexico City Passes Groundbreaking Law to Reform Bullfighting Practices
Mexico City Passes Groundbreaking Law to Reform Bullfighting Practices
New legislation aims to protect animal welfare while maintaining a modified version of traditional bullfighting.
In a historic decision, Mexico City legislators have voted overwhelmingly to ban traditional bullfighting practices, marking a significant shift in cultural attitudes toward animal welfare. The new law, which received a remarkable 61-1 vote in favor, was backed by Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and prohibits the harming or killing of bulls in bullfighting events.
While the new regulations allow for what is being termed “bullfighting without violence,” the traditional spectacles will now be modified under strict rules aimed at protecting the animals. These changes include regulations on the duration of the bull's presence in the ring and limiting bullfighters to the use of capes only. Advocates for this law, such as legislator Xochitl Bravo Espinosa, emphasized their commitment to animal welfare while also striving to preserve livelihoods connected to the bullfighting industry.
Despite the legislative triumph, the bill has faced strong backlash from traditional bullfighting supporters. Proponents staged protests outside the Mexico City legislature, emphasizing that this legislation is merely the beginning of an uphill battle to defend their beloved tradition. Four bullfighting associations issued a joint statement underscoring their determination to fight back against the new law.
With the closure of bullfighting in its traditional form, many are left to ponder how this decision will reshape one of Mexico's oldest customs, and whether a future without the spectacle of bloodshed can coexist with the deep-rooted cultural heritage of bullfighting.
While the new regulations allow for what is being termed “bullfighting without violence,” the traditional spectacles will now be modified under strict rules aimed at protecting the animals. These changes include regulations on the duration of the bull's presence in the ring and limiting bullfighters to the use of capes only. Advocates for this law, such as legislator Xochitl Bravo Espinosa, emphasized their commitment to animal welfare while also striving to preserve livelihoods connected to the bullfighting industry.
Despite the legislative triumph, the bill has faced strong backlash from traditional bullfighting supporters. Proponents staged protests outside the Mexico City legislature, emphasizing that this legislation is merely the beginning of an uphill battle to defend their beloved tradition. Four bullfighting associations issued a joint statement underscoring their determination to fight back against the new law.
With the closure of bullfighting in its traditional form, many are left to ponder how this decision will reshape one of Mexico's oldest customs, and whether a future without the spectacle of bloodshed can coexist with the deep-rooted cultural heritage of bullfighting.
