SACRAMENTO: Judge tosses a blanket on topless protest

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/5/5 | Lynda Gledhill, Greg Lucas

[SmithL]

Breasts Not Bombs told nudity not part of free-speech rights.

Sacramento -- A federal judge denied on Friday a request from a group of Mendocino women who wanted to protest topless on the grounds of the state Capitol.

U.S. District Judge Garland Burrell said the group made no compelling argument that showing their breasts constitutes free speech.

"Being topless is not inherently expressive" speech, Burrell said. The group, Breasts Not Bombs, had scheduled a protest for noon Monday. The California Highway Patrol threatened to arrest anyone who went topless.

Sherry Glaser, a leader of the group, said the protest may take place without bare breasts.

"All we really have is the power of ourselves," she said. "Our bodies bring attention."

Group members, whose protest on the west steps of the Capitol is intended to contrast the "indecent" initiatives backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on the November ballot with their "natural and decent" breasts, sought a temporary restraining order prohibiting CHP officers from arresting women who protest topless.

The First Amendment protects their right to protest bare breasted, the group argued. "The very act is a dynamic and fully expressive statement worthy of constitutional protection," their brief asserts.

But Burrell didn't buy that argument.

[SmithL]

Flashing breasts at Schwarzenegger? I wonder why that hasn't been thought of before.

[bad company]

I'm not disappointed at missing it.

[End Times Sentinel]

Here's a good reason NOT to do a google image search on Sherry.

Think two softballs in athletic socks.

Owl_Eagle

"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in.  I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"

-Hillary Clinton

(Yes, she really said that

Peggy Noonan

The Case Against Hillary Clinton, pg 55)

[DC Bound]

Somehow these women missed learning that, in our culture, you have to do something that shows merit, express an idea, build a business, lead men, make money, get elected, (make a movie,) before anyone will take you seriously. Instead of proving they are people whose ideas have merit in the real world, they prefer a stunt--a shortcut--around actually proving the substance of their character. In the war of ideas, all they have to offer is mamms. It would be like me saying you all should read my post and agree--after all, I have two feet.

[FarmerW]

I have decided to support these twits. I think we should raise money for them to actually take their protests to the people dropping the bombs. That does happen to be in Iraq.

I think of it this way, soliders will get a laugh out of it and I am sure the Iraqis will appreciate the topless women and know how to appropriately handle the demonstrations.

[MotleyGirl70]

That is just down right disgusting.

Fat slob.

[SmithL]

How about a compromise? They can go topless under their burkas.

[sit-rep]

[tuffydoodle]

Boob ping.

[Maximus of Texas]

No milk involved so why the ping?

[Tahoe3002]

It also takes brains to control your eating! Find a Dr. who can treat your obesity(if it really is something medical).

Please forgive, but I cannot/will not take anyone seriously who does not take personal responsibilty for their own actions. Smokers, chronicially obese, adulterers, dope-heads, et al.