SAN SEBASTIán – Hundreds of people took part in a demonstration against bullfighting in San Sebastián on Saturday. The manifestation coincided with the start of the Semana Grande, the big week of celebrations, of which bullfights are an important part.
The Semana Grande lasts until August 20. The protest, called by the Gipuzkoa Anti-Bullfighting Platform started shortly after 6.00 pm from the boulevard of San Sebastian. It ran under the slogan in Basque “Gure eskuetan” (In our hands).
The participants carried numerous banners and posters against bullfighting. Furthermore, they called for the organisation of a public consultation on the celebration of the bullfight in San Sebastián.
‘No culture, but torture’
“Goia, listen, anti-bullfighting Donostia”, “Animal torture under the penal code” or “It’s not culture, it’s torture”. These were some of the slogans shouted and displayed along the route through the city centre streets.
Among those in attendance were Unidas Podemos deputy Juantxo López de Uralde and Elkarrekin Donostia’s spokesman, Aitzole Arantea. Also, there were several representatives of EH Bildu, including Councilor Markel Ormazabal and the former mayor of San Sebastian, Juan Karlos Izagirre.
New platform against bullfighting
The municipal groups EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Donostia, together with twenty environmental groups, such as Eguzki or Pagma, are part of the new anti-bullfighting platform Gipuzkoa, the organiser of the protest.
The bullfights return to the capital of San Sebastian this week with three shows, the first of which took place this Saturday afternoon in the bullring featuring the bullfighters Morante de la Puebla, Alejandro Talavante and Pablo Aguado.
Semana Grande
During the festival week or the Feria of San Sebastián, the city organises numerous festivities and activities for all target groups. The Big Week concerts will be one of the highlights of the festivities. In addition, there is the classic fireworks competition, the pirate landing, the tortilla competition and the extensive musical and sporting agenda.
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