In America's Cockfighting Capital, a Proposed Ban Spurs Outrage
- Puerto Rico commission says the industry generates 27,000 jobs
- Bill would mean end of last U.S. refuge of the bloody sport
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It’s Puerto Rico’s answer to the bull ring -- a death-in-the-afternoon blood sport. But now the commonwealth is facing the end of cockfighting.
U.S. lawmakers are poised to close down the thriving island pastime as part of the farm bill that passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. The measure would extend a prohibition on animal fighting to territories; it’s already illegal in all 50 states. But in Puerto Rico, cockfighting is governed by the commonwealth and ingrained in the culture -- it was first documented in the 18th century but likely existed for hundreds of years before that.