Spain’s "Running of the Bulls", part of the city of Pamplona’s Festival of San Fermin, is notoriously cruel – it’s a pointless, abusive spectacle during which confused bulls are forced to run through the streets, while rowdy, drunken revellers run alongside and poke them with sticks. But I want to tell you about an event that puts Pamplona’s display of cruelty to animals to shame – PETA’s “Running of the Nudes”, held yearly to protest Pamplona’s cruelty to the bulls. When I participated in last year’s “Human Race”, I had an experience I’ll never forget.

Bullying Bulls

Every year, you hear about people getting trampled or gored in Pamplona, but what do they expect? The people who run with the bulls choose to put themselves in danger. The bull run is no walk in the park. For the bulls, who have no choice in the matter, it’s like running the gauntlet!

On the street, they are prodded and beaten to make them panic and run. Screaming people running alongside them grab and twist their tails and hit them with sticks, and many bulls are injured when they lose their footing or crash into the sides of buildings.

In the packed stadium at the end of the route, the bulls are exhausted, weakened from injuries they’ve suffered along the way. But it’s not back to the pasture for these tormented animals – later in the day, matadors will make sure that each and every bull dies right there in the dust by severing their spines while they are still wide awake.

Everyone Wins in This Race

When I learned how badly the bulls are treated, I knew I had to be a part of the Running of the Nudes, but I had worries: What if I was too embarrassed to go nude? What if I had a run-in with the police? What if I got arrested? I don’t even speak Spanish!

Despite my qualms, I went through with it, and what an experience! Here’s what I found out: The Running of the Nudes takes place a day or two before the first bull run, and participants aren’t all naked – they wear pretty much what you would see if you spent a day at the beach.

Lots of people come to watch the “Human Race”, but you don’t actually race – the participants walk, carrying signs and chanting in English, Spanish and lots of other languages. Many onlookers cheered as we passed, and some even joined us when they realized we were protesting cruelty to animals.

I needn’t have worried about the police, either. PETA gets a permit for the event, and the officers are actually pleasant and helpful – they know the real trouble begins when the Running of the Bulls participants take to the streets the next day with their lances and liquor.

Aside from being able to speak out against the cruel Running of the Bulls, the most amazing part of this experience was meeting other activists from around the world who were there for the same reason I was. I spent time with activists from Spain, France, England and Germany, many of whom I still keep in touch with and can’t wait to see again this year.

Of course, I should also mention the absolutely beautiful city of Pamplona. Pamplona is filled with lush parks, a splendid Gothic cathedral and a huge citadel. You can spend hours sitting in the sun-filled square of the quaint old quarter sipping the signature (and vegan!) local drink horchata and watching passers-by. I made a whole vacation out of the event and visited the cities of Barcelona and Toulouse as well. Both are only a few hours’ drive away from Pamplona, and the scenery along the way is breathtaking.

Join the ‘Human Race’!

Pamplona is a vibrant city filled with so much culture that it doesn’t need an antiquated event like the Running of the Bulls. Besides, the “Human Race” is performed with such passion and positive energy that it’s a tourist attraction in its own right. I can’t wait for the next Running of the Nudes, and I hope you’ll join me!