Live chickens were thrown from the top of a parade float during a procession through the streets of Paso del Toro, in the municipality of Medellín de Bravo, Veracruz.
A video recently circulated on social media shows at least two birds being thrown toward the platform where municipal authorities, including Mayor Samuel Acosta Martínez, were seated.
In response, the Coalition of Animal Rights Activists in Veracruz demanded that the municipality and relevant authorities punish those responsible for what they consider an act of animal cruelty.
In a statement released by the group, they asserted that the incident is prohibited and punishable under the Federal Animal Health Law, and therefore impunity should not prevail.
“No tradition or celebration can be justified at the expense of animal suffering. The people of Veracruz increasingly reject these acts of violence and demand that authorities enforce the law,” they stated on their social media accounts.
The recording shows someone throwing a chicken, which falls to the ground after failing to reach the official platform. A second time, another chicken is thrown and caught by the mayor.
Pineapples and other gifts are also thrown from the same parade float to the general public, but no other animals are seen being thrown.
To date, the Medellín de Bravo city council has not commented on the events that occurred on May 10, even though the activists’ complaint was filed on the 15th of this month.
