Thousands of people have raised their voices against the bull festivities in Dénia on social networks after the death by drowning on Monday of one of the bulls.
The Bous a la Mar have always generated rejection by a part of Dianense society, which every year has called demonstrations to point out what they claim is torture against animals . However, the sad event this week has caused the anti-Bous a la Mar movement to take root beyond the towns where it takes place.
The Marina Alta Animalist Platform (PAMA) has called the second protest against the bullfighting festival in the capital of the region. This time, unlike last Sunday, it will be held in front of the Bous a la Mar square, in the port of Dénia, at 12:30 on Friday, just minutes before the first session of the day begins.
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“There is no debate on the street.” Year after year, they have insisted on repeating this mantra to avoid talking about the future of the Bous a la Mar. The former councilor for Fiestas, Óscar Mengual, repeated it last year after a study they carried out came to light international animal organisations to make visible the supposed cruelty of the bullfighting event . This led to the request to carry out a public poll, which was supported by thousands of people in an online signature collection . However, the councilor defended himself by claiming that the request was late (the Holidays were already taking place) and that in any case it would be studied for the following year. But everything was then, conveniently forgotten.
With the death of a bull on Monday, via social networks, especially Twitter, there have been thousands of people criticising the Bous a la Mar and what happened, also filling the profiles of the Dénia City Council and Vicent Grimalt with comments against the party. Personalities from Journalism and Culture from all over Spain have joined the messages of indignation. However, from the consistory silence continues to reign and the programming continues.
It is something that international organisations such as AnimaNaturalis have also criticised. Their director in Spain, Aïda Gascón, has made it known that the authorities avoid discussing the future of popular festivals. “The future of popular festivals with bulls must be debated, since it does not offer the minimum security, neither for the participating animals, nor for people,” she pointed out.
