These Activists Jumped Into a Bullfighting Ring in France (Video)

Published by Katherine Sullivan.
2 min read

On Saturday, three members of Vegan Strike Group—an animal rights organization—leapt into the bullring after the first bullfight of the Feria de Dax in France. Exposing anti-bullfighting messages that were painted on their bodies, the activists made the nearly 10-foot jump into the arena to denounce the gruesome slaughter.

Once inside, the three members shouted messages directed at Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, including “[I]s this here our tradition?” “[O]ur traditions are not bloodthirsty,” and “Let’s not confuse barbarism with tradition.”

Vegan Strike Group sabotage bullfight in Dax, France

Three activists of the Vegan Strike Group jumped in the bullring of Dax in the south of France . Saturday 12 august 2017, These three persons are members of Vegan Strike Group, a group of peaceful activists fighting against all forms of animal exploitation for entertainment purposes.They jumped into the bullring to interrupt a bullfight just before the killing of the Bull to denounce the barbarity of bullfighting. The above is however legally authorized since 1951 in some parts of the french territory on the ground that it is an « unbroken tradition ».Shouting the following slogans : « Macron, is this here our tradition ? », « Macron, our traditions are not bloodthirsty », and « Let's not confuse barbarism with tradition », these militants want to appeal to the French president to speak up and call for abolition of bullfighting.For the members of this group, whether or not bullfight has been once listed on the French intangible cultural heritage list until the Council of State annulled the decision taken, and is today authorized under the cloak of the pretext of « unbroken tradition », comes to the same thing : bullfight is protected by the law and persists, whether formerly for cultural reason or now for traditional reason.This is all the more incomprehensible that tradition has a cultural content, and that culture embraces traditions.By jumping into this bullring, these activistis wanted to convey a message, that of anti-specism, which claims that all human beings with a breath have the right to the same respect, be it a human or an animal. Their chests painted with slogans, they shared for a moment the fate of the Bull, which is that of having been brought to the world to entertain man in a bloody manner, ending up being killed slowly under the acclamation of a crowd.This barbaric practice cannot be tolered any longger on Earth, how long will it take for the bullfight to be sanctioned, and finally called « murder » and no longer « tradition » ?Isn't there already enough suffering on earth, that certain individuals continue to pay to witness humiliation and torture of a being by its executioners ? This is what Vegan Strike Group tries to denounce.Vegan Strike Group activists, world citizens outraged by all forms of torture for profit.

Posted by Vegan Strike Group on Sunday, August 13, 2017

One of the activists, who had the words “Corrida, the shame of France” (corrida means “bullfight” in French) painted on his chest, can be seen being thrown to the ground and repeatedly kicked, reportedly by an organizer of the event. The activists were detained but have since been released.

Bullfighting: A Tradition of Tragedy

PETA applauds the brave activists for their courageous efforts to help end the bloody torture of bulls.

Each year, thousands of bulls are barbarically slaughtered in bullrings around the world.

Take a Stand for Bulls

Opposition to bullfighting is mounting, but there’s still work to be done. If you’re planning to visit a country that permits the blood sport, please leave it out of your itinerary.

A bloodied bull is deeply stabbed by a matador's sword during a bullfight. San Sebastian de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain

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