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5 July 2004
PAMPLONA — Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the streets of the Spanish city of Pamplona dressed only in their underwear Monday to protest the city’s famous annual bull run.
About 300 acvtivists from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) are opposed to what they call the “cruel bull running” which attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year.
“Before being let loose in the streets of Pamplona the bulls are drugged and submitted to various acts of torture to frighten them,” Peta said in a statement.
Running with the bulls during the festival is a highly popular but also dangerous activity that was popularised by writer Ernest Hemingway.
Tales of derring-do by the runners trying to stay one step ahead of the marauding bulls as they thunder through Pamplona’s dusty streets resonate in the city’s bars for the rest of the day.
The animal rights protesters had wanted to demonstrate naked, but the local authorities demurred.
Last year a Spaniard died from his injuries after one run and about 50 others were injured.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news