Activists give bullfighters a dressing-down
Posted
A group of animal rights activists undressed at Sydney's Circular Quay today to protest against bullfighting in Europe.
Wearing only underwear and sporting signs reading "The Naked Truth: Bullfighting is cruel", the eight protesters from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) caught the attention of passing tourists as they read a statement condemning bullfighting and Spain's annual Running of the Bulls.
PETA's campaign coordinator, Lauren Bowey, said the group wanted Australians to lobby governments to ban bullfights.
"We are using our voices and bodies to inform people in Australia and around the world that the few nations still engaging in this barbaric blood ritual need to step into the 21st century and ban bullfights," she said.
Ms Bowey said polls showed 83 per cent of French citizens and 72 per cent of Spanish citizens did not believe in bullfighting but tourists kept the sport alive.
She said the group would hold similar protests in cities around the world this year.
"It's a cheeky way to get attention for a good cause and as you can see, people pay a lot of attention when you're naked," she said. "And the naked truth is that bullfighting is cruel."
The 10-minute protest also raised the ire of the police, who ordered the group to cover up and move on.