Although outlawed by decision of the Supreme Court of Justice as decided after a civil lawsuit in 1997, this Brazilian version of bull torture still goes on every year in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina as a "heritage" of ancient costumes of the immigrants from the Açores. A "Spanish version" of bull torture continues to be tolerated in Santa Catarina and the legal procedures to stop this for good are not being adequately held either by the police or justice. Local politicians are allegedly linked to this torture providing the victims to the crowd in order to get votes on the next elections. If that is not the case, at times a whole town chips in so a bull can be bought for this sick “entertainment”. The complaints to the authorities do not seem to work. The police usually appears after the crime; those taking part in it, either actively or as the “audience” to such brutality (children included), are not indicted properly and, even worse, are immediately released. Strong repression against this hideous crime is immediately required.
Bulls are beaten, contained with ropes, have rocks thrown at them, pepper is thrown into their eyes; a gathering of people runs after the animals and attacks them with pieces of wood, knives and even forks or pitchforks. Sometimes they are set on fire deliberately. They might even drown if they are able to reach the sea in order to escape. Torture goes relentlessly on. Some of them might even have their limbs cut off so they are not able to run away.
The police seems powerless or unwilling to stop this crime, year after year. This happens mostly during the Holy Week reaching its climax on Easter day. The animals are usually kept alive for days before being murdered by the crowd and end up becoming a feast when a barbecue is served for the insane who perpetrated the crime during days in a row.
Please BOYCOTT TOURISM to Santa Catarina, Brazil, until this is conveniently repressed by the local police with hopefully the support of those politicians who only take advantage of people’s natural cruelty towards those who cannot protect themselves and don’t have a voice to ask for help.
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