In a united front against the drunken violence, growing numbers of rapes and sexual assaults, and cruelty to animals that allegedly occurred at this year’s San Fermín Running of the Bulls festival, feminist icon Gloria Steinem has joined PETA U.K. in signing a petition to Mayor of Pamplona Joseba Asirón calling for the event to be banned.
The petition, which is also signed by women’s, children’s, and animal organizations — representing more than 5 million members and supporters — follows allegations of 11 sexual assaults, four rapes, and one attempted rape perpetrated against women, children, and men during the festival. Forty-eight bulls were struck and panicked as they were stampeded, slipping and sliding down the city’s narrow streets, only to end up in the bullring, where they were tormented, tortured, and killed.
“The crystal-clear link between violence to women and cruelty to animals is cause enough to shut down Pamplona’s barbaric bullfights and related events,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA joins advocates around the world in calling on Pamplona to ban this cruel blood sport and the bloodlust-fueled sexual violence that goes along with it.”
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
