Mexico City Votes to End Violent Bullfighting

On March 18, 2025, Mexico City's Congress voted 61 to 1 to reform the rules governing bullfights, novilladas, rejoneo, becerradas, and similar events, prohibiting the killing of bulls and banning the swords and spears used to wound them, while also capping how long an animal can be kept in the ring. The reform followed a citizen petition from the coalition Mexico Sin Toreo, which gathered tens of thousands of signatures, and came a year after 54 bulls were killed over Mexico City's nine-day 2024 season at Plaza Mexico, the largest bullring in the world. The change did not end bullfighting in the capital; it ended the killing and bloodshed inside it, while matadors and aficionados protested outside Congress and animal rights advocates celebrated on the steps.