The controversy continues over a drafted ordinance to ban rodeos citywide. The debate has intensified as the ordinance is set to soon expire and has yet to be scheduled for a vote. The Northeast San Fernando valley’s large Latino charro and vaquero equestrian community disputes the cruelty claims citing their care for their horses and call the ban a threat to their livelihood and 500 year old cultural traditions.
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez has drafted amendments to the proposed ban that would protect Native American Indian, Indigenous Rodeo, Mexican Charrería, and Escaramuza events.
Animal rights activists respond:
Dear Editor,
Regarding the proposed rodeo ban in Los Angeles:
For anyone trying to defend rodeos (or the Mexican charreadas) with “culture” or “tradition” arguments, please consider the following excerpt from a treasured 12/26/90 letter written to me by Cesar Chavez (UNITED FARM WORKERS):
“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.” Words to live by.
Rodeo is condemned for its inherent cruelty by nearly every animal welfare organization on Earth. The United Kingdom (England/Scotland/Wales) outlawed all of rodeo back in 1934. Can the U.S. be far behind?
Kind regards,
Eric Mills
Eric Mills is a coordinator for Action for
Animals.