Posted on 07/03/2005 9:15:17 PM PDT by CHARLITE
DAYTONA BEACH -- Elizabeth Book stood near four bare-breasted Grecian muse sculptures on Peabody Auditorium's wall. Accompanied by one supporter Saturday, she held a protest flag that read "Sic Semper Tyrannis," -- Greek for "thus occurs to tyrants" -- and a portrait of a woman warrior with one breast bared.
Book's eyes full of fear, she stood fully aware of the consequences of what she was about to do. Then, gradually, she pulled down her tube top exposing her breasts to an audience of a couple of bystanders, a reporter and a photographer.
Two unmarked and one marked police vehicles pulled up and blocked the intersection. Two female police officers jumped out with handcuffs and a garment to cover Book, and arrested her on a charge of disorderly conduct.
Last week, a judge threw out unlawful nudity charges lodged by Daytona Beach police against Book for baring her breasts during Bike Week in March 2004 in protest of laws barring women from being topless in public.
Volusia County Judge David Beck agreed with Book's contention that she was exercising constitutionally protected free-speech rights when she exposed herself atop the Main Street Bridge. In response to that ruling the city's attorney, Greg McDole, said the city could continue to restrict public nudity using state laws barring disorderly conduct. McDole could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Police spokesman Sgt. Al Tolley would not comment, but provided a copy of a report supporting the charge. The report said Book's actions "caused a traffic jam (approximately seven vehicles) at the intersection of Wild Olive and Auditorium" and "pedestrians blocked the city sidewalk as they watched the defendant."
"The defendant's actions further induced, corrupted the public morals and outraged the sense of public decency . . . in a tourist area," the report states. "The defendant's actions constituted a breach of the peace."
Minutes before she was taken into custody, Book said she knew police planned to arrest her.
"If I am arrested on a criminal charge, I will cry, not for me but for all my sisters," she said.
Book, a stay-at-home mom from Ormond Beach, said her ongoing crusade is driven by concern for women and the historical significance of the female breasts. She also exposed her breasts along Main Street during Bike Week this year but was not arrested because she followed rules imposed by the city to limit her visibility to passersby.
"I hope to decriminalize the human breast; our forefathers saw our breasts as a symbol of courage and strength," she said.
Glen Rosberg, a Port Orange resident and Vietnam veteran, showed up in support of Book.
"I feel she's right," he said. "If a man can take his (shirt) off, why can't a woman? If you want to take your top off, I don't care. If you don't want to, I don't care. But women shouldn't be arrested for taking their top off."
According to the police report, Book was taken to the police station on Orange Avenue, issued a notice to appear in court and given a ride back to Peabody Auditorium. Book said she planned to fight the charge, which is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Comments:ihuoma.izeh@news-jrnl.com
"Sgt. Al Tolley would not comment, but provided a copy of a report supporting the charge. The report said Book's actions "caused a traffic jam (approximately seven vehicles) at the intersection of Wild Olive and Auditorium" and "pedestrians blocked the city sidewalk as they watched the defendant."
HA! Who'd a thunk it?!
What? NO pictures?
There's good naked and bad naked.
Why are butt-ugly liberals so fascinated with nudity?
Is she a boob,or what?
I'll bet she'd slap you silly if she caught you looking down her blouse. And probably sue you if it happened at work.
Here is a boob for you.
You hit it right on the head.
Umm, no, it isn't. It's Latin for "Thus Always To Tyrants".
Elizabeth Book
As expected, fat, ugly, and liberal. She belongs to "Topfree Equal Rights Association". If you want to look up their web page, there is plenty of middle-aged, sagging, angry feminists nudity.
But I warn you - you'll regret it.
she just wants to show off her tatoo
He probably follows her everywhere she goes hoping he will get another chance to support her right to take off her top and show her breasts. Men!!! LOL!
She is obviouly a neoConfederate .
Why is it that journalists seem to have such low regard for facts?
She thought the public would back her on this, but I guess her support was sagging.
Beat me to it.
However, I will make note of yet another example of the supposedly responsible and well-edited Main Stream Media being spanked by one of the great unwashed on the Internet.
-ccm
tattoo?
Char :)
Saw the pic and I think she may have a point. If your breasts look like a man's, then what's the problem? ;^)
It's all Spanish to me.
Nah. I think it just boils down to the fact that liberals are evil. They hate God and morality. Craving public nudity is simply and expression of who they are.
Excuse me .. why don't we have a judge who will sentence these people to move to France where they allow such foolishness on the beaches. Why do people have to inflict their personal preferences upon everybody ..?? There are nude beaches all over the place .. there is no excuse for this kind of juvenile behavior.
She is obviouly a neoConfederate.
Not only must the bait be appetizing and appealing, it must be properly presented. The fish aren't biting tonight.
Well, that's what happens when you fail to keep abreast of public opinion.
Probably the most astute response to this thread that will be offered. Congratulations.
look more closely ;)
"Why do people have to inflict their personal preferences upon everybody ..??"
...and you're not "inflicting" your personal preferences upon others? The coin has two sides just as most women have two breasts and men have two breasts. Assuming you're a male, would prefer to see a man's breasts or a woman's breasts?
Well, I'll be . . .
"If a man can take his (shirt) off, why can't a woman? If you want to take your top off, I don't care. If you don't want to, I don't care. But women shouldn't be arrested for taking their top off."
Wow. That's like... deep.
Why doesn't Elle McPherson ever want to do things like this?
It's a moot point.
The world has forgotten what modesty means. It's anything and everything goes and if it feels good do it. No respect or regard for appearance. Juvenile!
And .. if a woman doesn't have enough respect for herself than to parade around naked in public .. well she'll do anything.
I'm not inflicting my personal preference on anyone. But there are nude beaches where she can go to get her jollies - she doesn't have to parade downtown where there might be children around.
They are, for the most part, fat, lumpy and ugly.
Social acceptance of their nudity would supposedly make them feel "normal".
It's all just a very public therapy session.
A question for the ages, huh?
The Equal distribution of Misery. If she has to look at it, so do you :)
I didn't see where she was promoting nudity, only toplessness.
Well, however you define it, I don't want to see it.
LOL. Like an idiot, I went to their website. Coulda done w/o that...
That said, women shouldn't be arrested for removing their tops. It's just too bad that common decency has to be legislated.
Why are liberals and femi-nazis always so butt-ugly?
Well, I'll see your boobies, and raise you a pair of tits!
"I didn't see where she was promoting nudity, only toplessness."
You think there's a difference ..??
I think the girl suffers from a serious case of look-at-me-itis.
Probably the best you can expect from a journalist. I once said "carpe diem" to a journalist, and he replied, "What's fishing got to do with it?"
Incidentally, did you notice they've since changed the line in the article ... with your translation?
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