
Death Of A Blood Sport


A cockfight at one of the oldest cockfighting arenas in Puerto Rico, the Gallera Borinquén in the municipality of Arecibo. Erika P. Rodríguez for NPR hide caption
A cockfight at one of the oldest cockfighting arenas in Puerto Rico, the Gallera Borinquén in the municipality of Arecibo.
Erika P. Rodríguez for NPRLater this month, a Congressional ban will make cockfighting illegal in U.S. territories. Animal rights activists argue that the sport is cruel and inhumane. But in Puerto Rico, many people plan to defy the ban. They say cockfighting has been ingrained in the culture for centuries, and that the ban is a attempt to wipe out an integral part of Puerto Rican identity.
You can read more of our reporting on the cockfighting ban here.