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** June 15, 2023
DEAR FRIENDS,
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Summer is upon us, and with it comes the cruel and often illegal acts of Mexican rodeos. SHARK investigators and drone pilots have already documented two of these exhibitions of cruelty over the last two weekends in Illinois - one in McHenry County, Illinois and one in Boone County, Illinois.

The primary defense of Mexican rodeos isn’t that the animals aren’t hurt, as it is painfully obvious that they are. The excuse given as to why these indefensible spectacles should be allowed to continue is that they are tradition and part of Hispanic culture. I understand the worth of protecting and maintaining positive history among apeople, but Mexican rodeos are anything but positive.

Let’s look at what is happening on a smaller level. If you witness a group of juvenile delinquents torturing a dog or cat, chasing as it runs to catch its tail and throwing it to the ground, over and over, the obvious, natural response would be to call the police, and have the little monsters up on charges. They might be forced to go to a counselor. They might spend some time in a youth detention home. The parents of the creepy kids might even be faced with fines and charges of their own.

In Boone County ([link removed]) , and neighboring counties that allow the cruelty of Mexican rodeos, should the juvenile delinquents now be allowed to get off the hook by accurately claiming that what they are doing is almost identical to what occurs in the Mexican rodeo?

In this supposed “cultural event” steers are thrown to the ground over and over, perhaps 15 to 20 times in a single day. The outer sheaths of their tails, which is an extension of their spine, are literally ripped off. These victims are shocked incessantly with electric prods.

The horses ridden by the contestants do not escape the abuse. ([link removed]) SHARK drones regularly see horses whipped,being hit in the head and eyes, and literally being punched. The whipping in the face of one horses literally went on for minutes.

Mexican rodeo supporters are claiming that their culture is under attack simply because caring people just want to see Illinois humane laws enforced, and we want the obvious ([link removed]) and sometimes deadly abuse of these animals to be stopped. The fact is that the cruel practices of many a nation have been banned in the United States, and rightfully so.

In the Faroe Islands, aterritory of Denmark located in the North Atlantic, hundreds and hundreds of dolphins are herded into coves and slaughtered. Detested and condemned bypeople around the world, the people of the Faroes call it “tradition,” but they don’t try it in the US, because it wouldn’t be tolerated.

Virtually all the participants in Mexican-style rodeos are Hispanic, and they have latched onto a fake charge of racism to skulk past the punishment for animal abuse, while those fictional delinquents I wrote about earlier would be held to account. Clearly this is not right. Cruelty is cruelty, and it matters not, or certainly should not matter,the color of one’s skin.

As for denying someone’s culture, there are innumerable examples of Hispanic culture not only allowed to flourish, but are actually encouraged throughout the United States. The vast majority of Hispanic culture is rich in history, and there is plenty to be proud of. Abusing animals is not part of what should be celebrated, any more than American rodeos should be celebrated. Rodeos are at their foundations exhibitions of cruelty that capitalize on an animal’s fear of harm and attempted escape from pain, and possible injury and death.

America is a melting pot of cultures, and in virtually all of them, certain traditions have been appropriately left by the wayside. Slavery, a part of numerous cultures, is illegal. Cockfighting, part of culture in various parts of the world, is illegal. Whaling, still arguably part of Norwegian and Japanese culture, is illegal. Dogfighting, part of numerous cultures, is illegal. Bullfighting, part of various culture in both Europe and Central and South America, is illegal.

These are just a few of many dozens of examples that could be given. The activities of Mexican-style rodeos are well documented. They are proven to be cruel, injurious, and deadly. Giving one group of people the OK to hurt animals purely for enjoyment is not only ridiculous, it is indefensible.

In the case of Mexican-style rodeos ([link removed]) , a majority of Hispanics do not support this abuse, any more than the vast majority of white people support the cruelty of American-style rodeos, nor do the vast majority of Koreans support dog eating, even though there are those that do.

Promoters of Mexican-style rodeos know that there claims of racism are false. ([link removed]) That’s why they have ignored my many offers, and even outright challenges to debate the issue publicly. They know they’re spouting a load of bull. They know they’re wrong. It’s time for people to realize that they’re being duped, develop a backbone, and stand up for what is right.

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