SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Animal rights activists are asking a judge in Baja California to stop a plan to return bullfighting to Tijuana.
It’s been several years since they were allowed in the state and in most of Mexico.
Promoter Manuel Bowser is petitioning Baja California officials to allow him to put on a bullfight later this year, something he tried but failed to do in 2023.
He and the owners of the bullring are going to court to make it happen.
“This brings an economic boost to the city, people will work because of it, there will be restaurants and waiters who will benefit, it’s a windfall for the city the entire weekend of the event,” Bowser said.
Rolando Escalante, attorney for the bullring, says they are trying to get a waiver that would allow the bullfight to take place.
But Franck Ortiz González, the lawyer representing an animal rights association in Mexico, says in June 2023, a judge kept a similar event from happening, and that there’s no reason why anything will change this time around.
“Back then we were granted definite suspensions and that’s why all bullfights have been on hold ever since,” said Ortiz González. “We don’t expect anything to be different this time, although the ruling could still be challenged.”
Meantime, Escalante says the previous ruling was not in perpetuity and there are grounds to bring up the issue once again in court.
“It’s in the courts, in time the judge will rule on the matter, we hope it will be in our favor,” he said.
