#mexico

Banning the slaughter of bulls in Mexico City, home to the world's largest wild bull slaughterhouse

Lawmakers voted on March 18 to ban bullfights that kill or injure animals in Mexico City, home to the world's largest bullfighting ring.

The ban comes after parallel protests from opponents and supporters of wild cow slaughter.

The ban, sponsored by the mayor of Mexico City, Clara Brugada, aims to encourage "cruelty-free" bullfighting.

Mexico City cannot allow brutality to become a festival. "We cannot allow an animal to suffer and die for entertainment," Brugada said last week.

61 votes in favor of this ban; The Mexico City Legislature announced that it was approved with one vote against.

The ban is opposed by bullfighting advocates, who say it threatens a deeply rooted cultural tradition.

Mexico City is a bullfighting stronghold, and at its heart is the Plaza de Toros bullring, which seats more than 40,000 people.

But the city can be seen as a progressive stronghold and has seen years of legal battles between bull slaughter advocates and animal rights activists.

This ban prohibits the torture of animals for entertainment. Anton Aguilar, Executive Director of Humane World for Animals Mexico, said this is an important step towards eradicating the killings.