COLOMBIA-BULLFIGHTERS European and Colombian bullfighters protest against ring closure in Bogota

Record ID: 375787

  • Title: COLOMBIA-BULLFIGHTERS European and Colombian bullfighters protest against ring closure in Bogota
  • Date: 13th November 2014
  • Summary: ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** STAGE WHERE BULLFIGHTERS AND YOUNG BULLFIGHTERS ARE GATHERED CROWD WAVING WHITE CLOTH BULLFIGHTERS DURING THE CEREMONY
  • Embargoed: 28th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Colombia
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7RSR3V0YRL52DAOSRSC4C57QM
  • Story Text: Internationally-known bullfighters from Spain, Mexico, Venezuela and other countries descended on Bogota Wednesday (November 12) to lend their support to a group of young bullfighters who had been protesting for more than 100 days outside a bullring to demand their ring be reopened.
    The young bullfighters and their supporters rallied for months outside the Santamaria bullfighting ring to petition the city to reopen the arena so they could return to their work.
    Well-known bullfighters including Spain's Julian "Juli" Lopez answered the call of Colombian bullfighter Cesar Rincon when he reached out to the international bullfighting circuit for support.
    "It (the activism) is for freedom, it is for freedom that we have fewer fans and the only thing we want is to be able to have the freedom to continue this activity which, of course, generates so much passion. But look, I am going to ask you a massive favour once again, let's thank these important bullfighting figures who are benefiting me today, but not just me, the entire bullfighting world," Rincon said at a rally outside the arena.
    The demonstrating bullfighters finally lifted their 102-day-old strike after a Colombian court ruled in their favour and gave the city six months to allow bullfighting to return.
    Lopez said the young bullfighters were an inspiration as they fought for their right to continue their sport.
    "Admiration more than anything, respect, gratitude for the immense force you've shown to defend bullfighting values, and most of all, the freedom to be able to practice our profession," Lopez said.
    A spokesperson for the young bullfighters, Jose Pena, thanked the bullfighting greats for their support.
    "Thank you to the maestros for showing their solidarity; to maestro Cesar Rincon for concerning himself with reviving the Fiesta Brava. We have to rescue it. Just as they are united, I want to call on all of our Colombian brothers (to do the same), unity is what wins out," Pena said.
    Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro banned bullfighting in 2012, but a Constitutional Court ruled in September that the ban violated "the right to artistic expression" and lifted it. The city was given a six-month period to resume bullfighting, according to the AFP news agency.
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