Vegan Poetry

Colombia has become the latest South American country to turn its back on bullfighting.

The country’s congress voted on Tuesday to outlaw the cruel spectacle from 2027.

Before the ban becomes official, it will now need to be signed into law by President Gustavo Petro. A long-time opponent of bullfighting, he welcomed the decision on X.

“Congratulations to those who have finally made sure death is not a spectacle,” he wrote (in Spanish). “Anyone who enjoys watching animals die will end up enjoying seeing humans die, just as those who burn books end up burning humans.”

Felicitaciones a quienes por fin lograron que no sea un espectáculo la muerte.

Quienes se divierten con la muerte de animales terminarán divirtiéndose con la muerte de seres humanos; como los que queman libros terminarán quemando seres humanos. https://t.co/Y6NtZzVPpy

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) May 28, 2024

Colombia joins Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile in banning corridas de toros. Peru, Ecuador and Mexico still permit the blood-soaked pastime.

Corridas returned to Mexico City in January 2024 following a two-year pause. Efforts to re-instate a full ban continue.

Bullfighting also still takes place in Spain, France and Portugal.

In Colombia, the newly liberated stadia will now be put to better use for cultural and sports events.

Terry Hurtado, a Colombian animal rights activist and city council member, told AP: “This ban is a huge victory for organizations that have worked to transform society and reject violence against animals.”

He added: “I feel relieved that bulls and horses (which also participate in some bullfights) in Colombia will no longer be tortured, and that children will no longer be exposed to this spectacle.”