Hundreds of animal rights activists took to the streets of Sevilla at the weekend as part of an annual anti-bullfighting march organised by Pacma.
Now in its 11th year, the demonstration marched under the slogan ‘No mataras’ (Thou shalt not kill), targeting what organisers describe as the contradiction between religious belief and support for bullfighting.
The protest lasted more than two hours, starting at the Jardines de Murillo and ending outside the iconic Real Maestranza de Caballeria bullring.
Despite the symbolic destination, there were no major incidents, although tensions briefly flared.
One passerby shouted support for bullfighter Morante de la Puebla, while a heated exchange took place outside the bullring between a protester and a pro-bullfighting spectator.
Nearby, a small group linked to Vox staged a counter-protest with banners defending bullfighting, while others told demonstrators to ‘go to work’.
Pacma has since said it will file a complaint over what it describes as obstacles and inconsistent treatment during the demonstration, including issues at the start of the march where organisers had to show permits to proceed.
Tourists and mixed reactions
The march drew significant attention from tourists, many of whom filmed the procession as it passed through the city centre.
Protesters carried banners in multiple languages – including Spanish, French and Japanese – while a batucada drum group led the march, giving the demonstration a festival-like atmosphere for some onlookers.
‘Bullfighting is in decline’
Among those attending was Javier Luna, who reiterated calls to abolish bullfighting in Andalucia.
He claimed that up to 80% of the population opposes the practice, arguing that while social awareness is growing, political support for bullfighting remains strong across major parties.
Local coordinator Clara Marquez said the tradition is ‘increasingly in decline’, even in cities like Sevilla where bullrings continue to attract large crowds.
‘The Maestranza being full does not represent society,’ she said. ‘More and more people are raising their voices on the streets and online.’
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
