Los Angeles Times
MEXICO CITY — In a move that could accelerate the decline of a five-century tradition in Mexico, the capital city’s legislature has voted to ban all those under the age of 18 from attending bullfights in the city.
The ban could go into effect at Plaza Mexico, the world’s largest bullring, as early as next month unless Mexico City’s mayor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, forces the assembly to reconsider. The ban was one of 70 articles in a law on animal protection that was passed 55-0 late Thursday.
The mayor told a news conference Friday that he would abide by the law, including the age limit to attend bullfights.
The law was approved at a time when attendance and the number of bullfights is in decline in Mexico as bullfighting faces competition from TV and other entertainment. Controversies at Plaza Mexico, including charges that it uses underage bulls, have soured the public on bullfighting.
Bullfighting organizers and fans immediately attacked the law as an assault on civil rights, the economy and logic. A spokesman for Plaza Mexico, Juan Castaneda, said industry figures, including ranchers, bullring employees and matadors, would convene next week to devise a strategy to try to reverse the law.
"Youth are our future fans. If we don’t create them as minors, in a few years the spectacle will be finished and the species of fighting bulls will end," Castaneda said.
The bill was pushed through the left-leaning assembly by the small but forceful Green Ecologist Party, which has long campaigned against bullfights and cockfights.
In exchange for their support in the 2000 presidential election, the Greens extracted a promise from Vicente Fox during his victorious presidential campaign to not attend a bullfight or cockfight until after the election.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
