Twenty-seven angry bulls were let loose in the streets of Huamantla, Mexico this past weekend. About 100,000 people lined the street to watch amateur bullfighters, many fueled by alcohol, dash into the melee to challenge the bulls and show their bravado. Some carried red capes in imitation of their professional counterparts. The enraged animals charged the participants and even pawed their way into the crowds and slammed into fences, goring spectators with their lethal horns.
After two hours of the sanctioned carnage, 40 had been injured, nine seriously according to hospital officials. One of the injured was a Red Cross paramedic who was gored in the head by a runaway bull. The animal was shot to death by municipal police.
Organizers of the event were indifferent about the number of injured. "It’s a traditional event that has taken place since the time of the Tlaxcalteca ancestors,” Alejandro Aguilar, and organizing committee official said. “There are always the injured, which there always has to be." He said they tried to minimize casualties this year by increasing security that included 500 emergency personnel and 20 ambulances. Fewer were hurt this year than last year, he said, when one man died.
Huamantla is in the state of Tlaxcala, east of Mexico City and the town’s running of the bulls has been a regular event since 1953. Unlike bullfights, which are performed by professionals, anyone may participate in the running of the bulls.
To see a video of the event, check out YouTube, http://tinyurl.com/5boh9c.