Don’t expect to see a bullfight when you trip to Barcelona, the last stadium is closed and the ”sport” banned. In fact for years it was mainly kept going by the tourist industry.
The popular bumper sticker in Madrid is the bull, representing, for the Catalans, cruel bullying disguised as ‘heroic’ sexist posturing.
Barcelona cars on the other hand feature the Catalan donkey, symbolizing just a nice but stubborn animal, and maybe the ability to laugh at themselves.
In San Sebastian of the Kings, (real name Donostia in Basque) the battle against bullfighting is in full swing. Last week there was a new demo against, which was attacked by pro-bullfight thugs, sending one girl to hospital. (see report below)
Donostia is in Euskadi, which has just finally lost a 30 year guerrilla campaign against colonization by Spain. As in Catalonia many see bullfighting as Spanish and barbaric, and symbolically torturing themselves.
The Basques look with envy at how the Catalans have gained international sympathy, and their bid to hold a peaceful referendum on independence from the corrupt and repressive Spanish State.
People laugh at the bullfight struggle, pointing to the half million evicted, 6 million unemployed and disappearing health and education rights, etc., the bulls are killed and eaten anyway and few except anarchists and vegans care for animal rights.
However even pro-bullfighters agree this is deeply symbolic of expressing, and some say imposing, national identity and patriarchal values.. 
Modern sports don’t directly torture, but all are abused to arouse and manipulate people through tribal or nationalist hysteria, and then sell advertising.
How Bullfighting Works…
”The bullfight, as it is practiced today, involves professional toreros (of which the most senior is called a matador) who execute various formal moves which can be interpreted and innovated stiull according to the bullfighter’s style or school. It has been alleged that toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted through the bull. Such maneuvers are performed at close range, after the bull has first been weakened and tired by lances and short spears with barbs which are thrust into and then hang from the bull. The close proximity places the bullfighter at some risk of being gored or trampled by the weakened bull. After the bull has been tortured and hooked multiple times behind the shoulder by other matadors in the arena, the bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust, which is called the estocada. In Portugal, the finale consists of a tradition called the pega, where men (forcados) try to grab and hold the dying bull by its horns when it runs at them.”…
Aggression against activists in the Anti-BullFight demo in San Sebastian
by Sanse Antitaurino
TORTURE IS NOT CULTURE !!!
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION
SANSE Antitaurino
https://www.facebook.com/sanse.antitaurino
Agresión contra activistas en la concentración Anti-Taurina de San Sebastián de los Reyes Destacado
Escrito por Sanse Antitaurino
El sábado 30 de agosto a las seis de la tarde se celebro por tercer año consecutivo una concentración legalizada por la abolición de la tauromaquia frente a la plaza de toros de San Sebastián de los Reyes, convocada por el colectivo Sanse Antitaurino.
Asistieron entorno a 100 personas de forma pacífica. Transcurrida una hora, coincidiendo con el paso de la Peña de los Olivares hacia el interior de la plaza, tres individuos que no sabemos si son integrantes de esta peña, comenzaron a insultar y amenazar a los presentes de manera chulesca.
Uno de los asistentes respondió verbalmente a los improperios, motivo por el cual fue amonestado por la policía presente para que no se caldeara el ambiente. En ese momento en la esquina de la calle Estafeta se produjo la agresión. Un individuo agredió a una compañera anti-Taurina que se encontraba mirando los hechos, cayendo esta al suelo y dándose con una valla móvil. Una mujer la agarro de los pelos intentándola arrastrar por el asfalto, mientras un tercero amenazaba de muerte. La intervención policial y de varios compañeros evitó males mayores.
La compañera de 20 años de edad y 1.50 cm de estatura fue atendida por los servicios sanitarios presentes. Sufre un golpe y una herida en la rodilla. Se ha interpuesto denuncia en la comisaría de Policía Nacional.
Desde el colectivo Sanse Antitaurino condenamos esta agresión de elementos pro taurinos y daremos apoyo total a la compañera agredida.
Animamos a las instituciones públicas, los partidos, movimientos y colectivos sociales y políticos de la zona a condenar este tipo de agresiones intolerantes que atentan contra derechos básicos y elementales en cualquier sociedad democrática, como es el derecho de manifestación y expresión
Ni las declaraciones de cargos públicos, ni las amenazas o agresiones podrán parar nuestra lucha por un Sanse libre de maltrato animal.
¡¡¡LA TORTURA NO ES CULTURA!!!
POR LA LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN Y DE MANIFESTACIÓN
SANSE ANTITAURINO
https://www.facebook.com/sanse.antitaurino
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