Mexico City legislature may ban bullfighting
Mexico City legislature may ban bullfighting
Arturo Macias plunges his sword into a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” release a bull during a bull fight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Arturo Macias shouts as he fights a bull at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” are toppled by a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” try to immobilize a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A man sells souvenirs at a stand outside The Plaza de Toros Mexico, in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
A bull topples a mounted bullfighter armed with a lance, or Picador during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A patch with a bull’s head is stitched on a suitcase during a bullfighting practice at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb.12, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Bullfighting attendees stand outside the Mexico bullring, the world’s largest, in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
A bull dies on the arena after a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A “banderillero” nails two “banderillas” on a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Luis Ayala, 29, and Toto Martinez, 39, practice bullfighting at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Apprentice bullfighter, Jussef Hernandez Medina greets attendees as he brought into the bullring on a carriage before the bullfight begins in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Ricardo Delgado, a second-generation bullfighter who also works as an interior decorator, holds up bull horns during a bullfighting practice at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. The Mexico City Congress has raised an initiative to ban bullfighting, with the possibility of leaving people like Delgado and many more without a job. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
An animal rights demonstrator is surrounded by police while protesting outside the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Arturo Macias makes a pass as the public shouting “Ole,” during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A bull runs in the arena during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A steward displays the name and the weight of the next bull to fight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Arturo Macias plunges his sword into a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Arturo Macias plunges his sword into a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” release a bull during a bull fight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” release a bull during a bull fight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Arturo Macias shouts as he fights a bull at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Arturo Macias shouts as he fights a bull at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” are toppled by a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” are toppled by a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” try to immobilize a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Members of “Forcados Amadores de Mexico” try to immobilize a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A man sells souvenirs at a stand outside The Plaza de Toros Mexico, in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
A man sells souvenirs at a stand outside The Plaza de Toros Mexico, in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
A bull topples a mounted bullfighter armed with a lance, or Picador during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A bull topples a mounted bullfighter armed with a lance, or Picador during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A patch with a bull’s head is stitched on a suitcase during a bullfighting practice at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb.12, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
A patch with a bull’s head is stitched on a suitcase during a bullfighting practice at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb.12, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Bullfighting attendees stand outside the Mexico bullring, the world’s largest, in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Bullfighting attendees stand outside the Mexico bullring, the world’s largest, in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
A bull dies on the arena after a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A bull dies on the arena after a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A “banderillero” nails two “banderillas” on a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A “banderillero” nails two “banderillas” on a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Luis Ayala, 29, and Toto Martinez, 39, practice bullfighting at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Luis Ayala, 29, and Toto Martinez, 39, practice bullfighting at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Apprentice bullfighter, Jussef Hernandez Medina greets attendees as he brought into the bullring on a carriage before the bullfight begins in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Apprentice bullfighter, Jussef Hernandez Medina greets attendees as he brought into the bullring on a carriage before the bullfight begins in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Ricardo Delgado, a second-generation bullfighter who also works as an interior decorator, holds up bull horns during a bullfighting practice at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. The Mexico City Congress has raised an initiative to ban bullfighting, with the possibility of leaving people like Delgado and many more without a job. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Ricardo Delgado, a second-generation bullfighter who also works as an interior decorator, holds up bull horns during a bullfighting practice at a park in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. The Mexico City Congress has raised an initiative to ban bullfighting, with the possibility of leaving people like Delgado and many more without a job. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
An animal rights demonstrator is surrounded by police while protesting outside the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
An animal rights demonstrator is surrounded by police while protesting outside the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb.13, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)
Arturo Macias makes a pass as the public shouting “Ole,” during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Arturo Macias makes a pass as the public shouting “Ole,” during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A bull runs in the arena during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A bull runs in the arena during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A steward displays the name and the weight of the next bull to fight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A steward displays the name and the weight of the next bull to fight at The Plaza de toros México bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — This season’s bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity.
This year’s season closed Sunday at the city’s Plaza Mexico arena, and it was marked — as has become routine — by protesters.
Last year, the assembly’s Animal Welfare Commission gave preliminary approval to a law banning public events “at which animals are subject to mistreatment and cruelty that result in their death.” But the bill never made it to a vote before the full assembly.
Animal rights activist Alberto Luvianos says legislators may have been cowed by the potential lost income.
“They (legislators) recognized that animals have rights, but the issue they are worried about is the income from bullfighting,” said Luvianos, who estimated the fights create about 3,000 jobs.
The bullfighting associations claim the real number is ten times that amount.
Evangelina Estudillo is one of them. She has worked as street vendor outside the area for 20 years, and the income helped her raise nine children. The prospect of a ban makes her uneasy.
“The president would have to do something,” Estudillo said. “Look how many families rely on this.”
Since 2013, four states in Mexico have already banned bull fights, and polls indicate substantial support for a ban. A ban in Mexico City — currently the largest venue for the events — would be an international setback for bullfighting.
“I respect those who are against it, but I don’t agree, said Paco Dominguez, who sells bullfighting merchandise and posters. ”I see it as an art, a part of culture, and I make a living off of it.”