Activists led by Bogotá Mayor Gustavo Petro have won a new battle against bullfighting. On Tuesday, the city council approved a referendum to ask citizens whether they want to continue hosting the fights.

A court, however, must decide whether the result will be legally binding. Once that obstacle has been overcome, the city will set a date. Mayor Petro has suggested holding the referendum on October 25, the same day as regional elections.

The court had given the city six months to reopen La Santamaría and resume the fights, but it has failed to do so
With 29 votes in favor and 6 against, the mayor seems to be getting his way for the time being. There has been a fierce debate between bullfighting fans and animal welfare groups ever since the mayor closed down Colombia’s most emblematic bullring, La Santamaría, three years ago. He did this by refusing to renew the lease, and calling for performances that celebrate “life, not death.”

Petro dealt the first blow in June 2012 when he shut down La Santamaría. But the city’s bullfighting association, Corporación Taurina de Bogotá, hit back with a legal complaint that eventually reached the Constitutional Court. After nine months, the court sided with the plaintiff and in September 2014 it ordered the mayor to resume bullfights in the ring.

Lets help the amazing mayor and activists of Bogota and help stop the barbaric and cruel horror of Bullfighting.

Thank you

Eli