Darts Banned in Coria Fiesta
A protest against the cruel fiesta of Sanjuanes, in Coria, took place on Saturday 20th June 2009. Coria is due west of Madrid and just a few miles from the Portuguese Border. In this fiesta a bull is released in the village square where darts are blown into it from blowpipes. The preferred targets being the eyes and testicles. After two hours, when this torture has reduced the bull to a helpless state, it is killed. During this week long fiestas, two bulls are killed each day. |
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There were 150 people from Spain on the demonstration. Coming from as far afield as Andalusia, Valladolid, Barcelona, Madrid and the surrounding areas. Tony Moore, Chairman of FAACE, and Mechthild Mench, Vice President of the German group Animal 2000 and President of Anti-Corrida De, joined the protestors (see left). They were the only non-Spanish people present. The demonstration also served as a fitting memorial to Vicki Moore, who was seriously injured whilst filming the fiesta in 1995 and died in 2000 as a result of the attack. |
There were 150 people from Spain on the demonstration. Coming from as far afield as Andalusia, Valladolid, Barcelona, Madrid and the surrounding areas. Tony Moore, Chairman of FAACE, and Mechthild Mench, Vice President of the German group Animal 2000 and President of Anti-Corrida De, joined the protestors. They were the only non-Spanish people present. The demonstration also served as a fitting memorial to Vicki Moore, who was seriously injured whilst filming the fiesta in 1995 and died in 2000 as a result of the attack. |
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They proceeded to walk, carrying their banners, through the streets of Coria towards the main square (above), where the bulls are first released. The noise of the crowd was deafening.
The majority Corians were very vocal in their opposition and gesticulated in many crude ways (below left), but a number of the villagers remained silent and a few even applauded in support (below centre). Things could have turned very dangerous if the civil guard had not been there (below right). As it was, only a few plastic cups, bottles and an egg were thrown.
Standing in the square gave the demonstrators some idea of what it must be like for the bulls, except they knew that they were with friends and why they were there; whereas the bulls come from the fields into a hell where their only escape from the torture is death.
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Several 'manifestos' were read, including one by Tony Moore in spanish (see left). To read the text of Tony's moving speech, in english or spanish, click on the links below: The protestors then made their way back to the coaches, with abuse still being shouted at them. |
The demonstration was a great success, getting a lot of media cover and spurring the mayor of Coria to make a number of statements for an improvement for bulls in the fiesta.
1) Darts - which made Coria different from other bull fiestas - have now been banned.
2) No lasers are allowed.
3) Only authorised people are allowed to use banderillas.
Organisations taking part included: PACMA (Partido Antitaurino Contra el Maltrato Animal) - Ecologistas de Extremadura - Libera! - ANADEL (Asociación Nacional Animales con Derechos y Libertad) - Eqanimal and CACMA (Colectivo,Andaluz Contra el Maltrato Animal).