If a new Bill is passed by the local government, Mexico City, the most populated city in North America where the biggest bullfighting ring in the world is, could ban bullfighting in 2022.
In early December of 2021, the Animal Welfare Commission of the Congress of Mexico City proposed a Bill for the banning of bullfighting, which would prohibit “holding public shows in which bulls, steers and calves are abused, tortured or deprived of life”. Those breaking this law could receive fines as high as $236,000. However, a few days later, Jesús Sesma, the President of the Commission, stopped the progress of this Bill saying that he wanted to consult further the families of people that may be affected by such ban. This process is set to resume in 2022. Several states in Mexico, such as Coahuila, Sinaloa and Quintana Roo, have already banned bullfighting, but banning it in Mexico City, with its huge bullring, is a much bigger deal.
Ana Villagrán, Deputy for the PAN party and Secretary of the Animal Welfare Commission of the Mexico City Congress, said she believes strongly in animal rights and the righteousness of abolishing bullfighting, despite she grew up with her grandfather attending the Sunday corridas. She added “We do not endorse this activity, because we understand that it is based on the suffering and torture of an animal, but we have every willingness to help them (the people who are dedicated to this activity) to find a way, as has happened elsewhere of the country (where it has been approved to prohibit bullfighting). “
There is great hope that the ban will eventually be passed, as Mexico is becoming quite a progressive country. For instance, in 2021 it became the first North American country to ban testing cosmetics on animals, and in 2014 Mexico City banned the use of wild animals in circuses.
There are only nine countries left with an operational bullfighting industry: Spain, Portugal, France, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, USA and Mexico. Although in this century bullfighting has been banned in cities and regions in these countries, and the number of bullfights has declined dramatically, there is still a long way before total abolition. Any advance of the anti-bullfighting movement in Mexico, arguably the most bullfighting country in the world, is certainly good news. If you want to help to ban bullfighting in Mexico City, there is a petition you can sign urging the local lawmakers to vote “yes” to ban all bullfighting.
