This demonstration comes amid growing momentum in Spain against the centuries-old tradition, as reporter Lauren Frayer tells our Newscast unit. It was organized by Pacma, an animal rights political party — and the group says it was "the biggest anti-bullfighting protest to date," as Reuters reports.
Frayer says a graphic viral video has energized the movement against the practice. "Last month, animal rights activists [from Pacma] went undercover to film a medieval festival south of Madrid, where a baby bull was stabbed and killed in the bull ring by amateurs," she reports. "Video of the scene with children cheering went viral — with 20 million views in 24 hours. Many Spaniards were outraged that such torture is legal here."
There have been signs of change recently. This week, "a popular festival that used to involve spearing bulls as they run through the streets will go on — but without the bulls being killed. That part has been banned," Frayer reports.
According to the Associated Press, "at least 17 Spanish cities and towns have cut municipal funding for bullfights and bull runs, or passed legislation condemning or banning it since the new leftist party Podemos won its first seats in local and regional elections a year ago." The Catalonia region banned bullfighting altogether in 2011, as NPR reported.
