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Post by sparrow on Aug 20, 2008 18:34:15 GMT 12
Tempers flare at Boobs on Bikes parade
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The protest and the parade in Auckland today.
Pictures: AFP
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August 20, 2008 - 3:00PM
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Tempers flared as marchers raising awareness of links between pornography and sexual violence faced off with people watching Boobs on Bikes in Auckland.
"It makes objects out of women - it degrades them and we're sick of people like Steve Crow trampling over the values of our country," said one protester.
The protest organised by Auckland Women's Centre and Stop Demand Foundation began about half an hour before the Boobs on Bikes parade and had about forty protesters.
Among those in the demonstration were four councillors from Auckland City Council, including Cathy Casey whose legal bid to stop the parade was rejected yesterday.
Ms Casey had threatened to lie in front of the parade to stop it but today she did not go through with her threat.
Stop Demand founder Denise Ritchie said the demonstrators had been well received, apart from several sections of Queen St heckling the group.
"It was an excellent opportunity to get our message out there.
"In a perverse way Steve Crow has provided us with a wonderful platform."
Spectators watching the topless women on motorcycles heading down Queen Street booed the second protest, yelling at the demonstrators "You can't stop it!"
Objects were also thrown at members of the protest; one participant reported being hit with an L&P bottle.
Other spectators tried to grab a banner off two people protesting against the parade.
Boobs on Bikes organiser Steve Crow said it was great to see people protesting.
"It's nice to see a few protesters exercising their right to free speech," he said.
The only other tension during the controversial hour long parade was when eggs were thrown from a building on lower Queen St at Mr Crow, with one egg narrowly missing one of four policemen.
Mr Crow, in a black Bentley convertible, led the parade and had instructed the topless women beforehand to keep the jiggling to a minimum and to not do anything that would be deemed offensive.
The parade featured about 30 women baring their breasts to crowds lining the footpaths.
Thousands of people left their office buildings to witness the spectacle. A strong police presence was also evident.
The huge crowd, at times lined six deep, cheered and and snapped the topless women on cellphones and cameras.
There were also few hecklers among the crowd.
One man shouted at Mr Crow, asking him if he was a pervert.
Mr Crow replied he was not a pervert, he was comfortable with who he was and what he did, and it was the man on the sidewalk who was the pervert.
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Post by sparrow on Aug 20, 2008 18:34:37 GMT 12
Tempers flare at Boobs on Bikes parade
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Auckland police were unable to give a crowd estimate but spokeswoman said an officer Noreen Hegarty quoted the officer in charge as saying "plenty more people than last year."
She said there were no arrests and the crowd was orderly.
While the crowd was predominantly male from all age groups and professions, many women also watched the parade.
One woman, in her 50s, who did not want to be named said she was a tourist from Canada.
"We've got nothing like this at home."
The woman said she was taking photos of the parade to show friends and family in Canada because "no one will believe me".
Five policemen at the front of the parade at times struggled to contain the crowd which spilled on to the road from the sidewalks.
Virtually every possible viewing space was taken up with construction workers watching from building sites and office workers looking out of windows.
Dave from Auckland said it was the first time he'd been to the event.
"I've never been to it before. It's a good event for Auckland city, a bit of money will be spent here today because of it."
Mark from Auckland was also a first time attendee.
"It was good, never seen it before. I liked the boobs best, there wasn't enough of them though! It shouldn't be criticised, there's no harm in it as long as there are no children around."
A house painter who decided to take the day off to experience the parade said it was awesome.
"I wish it was only halfway through. I'm not disappointed, we'll wait for it to come back around the street."
Some spectators said the parade could have been a little larger.
"I was expecting it to be a bit bigger. It's got way too much publicity for what it is. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I thought there would have been heaps more too it." Auckland resident Greg said.
Kevin from Auckland echoed the sentiment.
"It was pretty small though, I was expecting it to be a bit bigger. The bikes were pretty good actually, maybe even better than the women," he said.
stuff.co.nz
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Post by sparrow on Aug 20, 2008 19:06:57 GMT 12
Boobs on bikes? Or Pervs on Pavement?
I don't think this should be allowed in the middle of the day. It seems to me the mainstreaming and acceptance of the porn industry. I disagree with it.
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Post by graeme30 on Aug 20, 2008 19:15:42 GMT 12
The middle of the day is because many children are at school.
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Post by misilon on Aug 20, 2008 19:39:44 GMT 12
well whatever takes thier fancy I spose,.
.I would never actively oppose such an event after all woman are setting up house with woman , men are setting up house with men ,..
abortions are way badder than boobs on bikes
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Post by misilon on Aug 20, 2008 19:44:11 GMT 12
we have a hotel in whakatane where the bar girl serves barebreast on a friday night
I have to say she sports some good looking boobs and it does not look at all offensive
just dosent feel right is all!
but,...each to his own,..I often play karaoke in there
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Post by graeme30 on Aug 20, 2008 19:52:49 GMT 12
we have a hotel in whakatane where the bar girl serves barebreast on a friday night I have to say she sports some good looking boobs and it does not look at all offensive just dosent feel right is all! but,...each to his own,..I often play karaoke in there Boobs are nice when they are shown in the way with clothing. This naked thing is a bore. Boobs can be displayed better with sexy cloths. ;D |
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Post by sparrow on Aug 20, 2008 19:57:53 GMT 12
The middle of the day is because many children are at school. And if they had it at night many kids and teens would be at home. When they had it in ChCh, some high school boys were photographed at the event. They got in big trouble for being there. |
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Post by graeme30 on Aug 20, 2008 20:00:30 GMT 12
The middle of the day is because many children are at school. And if they had it at night many kids and teens would be at home. When they had it in ChCh, some high school boys were photographed at the event. They got in big trouble for being there. At night the nipples would go hard. l.o.l |
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Post by sparrow on Aug 20, 2008 20:04:08 GMT 12
And if they had it at night many kids and teens would be at home. When they had it in ChCh, some high school boys were photographed at the event. They got in big trouble for being there. At night the nipples would go hard. l.o.l Wouldn't that be a bonus though?  Lol. Or does it affect the plastic fantastics? |
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Post by kokonutwoman on Aug 20, 2008 20:07:30 GMT 12
I don't have a lot of time for the porn industry period especially those involving children
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Post by Lux on Aug 20, 2008 20:21:37 GMT 12
Its just wrong to have that kind of display along the main street of Auckland in the middle of the day. Privacy of your own home and all that, the general public don't really need to be exposed to something like that while getting there children from A to B or doing their shopping, theres a time and a place for those who want to indulge...Queen Street Auckland NO, just makes Auckland look like the sleaze capital of NZ, which in all honestly it probably is.
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Post by graeme30 on Aug 21, 2008 9:51:20 GMT 12
At night the nipples would go hard. l.o.l Wouldn't that be a bonus though? Lol. Or does it affect the plastic fantastics? L.o.L. |
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Lol. Or does it affect the plastic fantastics? 
