$10,000 for Topless Mermaid Bust

Yahoo ^ | April 24th 2003 | Reuters

[CanadianFella]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City has to fork out $10,000 for arresting a woman who appeared topless at the 2001 Coney Island Mermaid Parade, her lawyer says.

The 31-year-old Brooklyn woman, Amy Gunderson, wore only a thong and body paint at the annual Mermaid parade and sued the city for violating her First Amendment rights after police arrested her.

"A woman has a constitutional right to appear in public topless, the same right that men have," her lawyer, Ron Kuby, said Wednesday.

The city settled after the charges against Gunderson were dismissed. City lawyer Deborah Meyer said the city "makes business decisions every day" and it was "in our best interest to settle."

Kuby said Gunderson planned to make an encore appearance at this year's parade. He did not say whether she would be wearing a shirt or not.

[Cyber Liberty]

Okay, where are they?

[Constitution Day]

I second that. Pics, please!

[Redcloak]

When I saw the title, I was expecting a story about a pricey statue.

[ConservativeDude]

i'm thinking that a woman advancing her rights in this way may not be nice looking....perhaps this is a blessing that no pics are included

[steve-b]

$10,000 for Topless Mermaid Bust

[insert Beavis and Butt-head laugh]

[Cyber Liberty]

Yes, that is always a threat. It's the "Helen Thomas" threat mentioned frequently here on FR.

[ClearCase_guy]

Constitutional right to appear topless in public. Right. Has that scamp Aaron Burn been messing with Madison's draft of the Constitution again? He's such a comedian!

[ClearCase_guy]

Burn == Burr

[areafiftyone]

From the New York Post

[<1/1,000,000th%]

NY women won this in court a couple of years ago. (Pictures??)

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Nope, I saw a picture of her in yesterday's paper (NY Daily News, I think), she was reasonably attractive.

[ChadGore]

Pictures ?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Although it was a different shot than post #10. I may have to re-evaluate.

[Slings and Arrows]

Constitutional right to appear topless in public. Right. Has that scamp Aaron Burn been messing with Madison's draft of the Constitution again? He's such a comedian!

It's that strange New York state consitution. Gun rights aren't protected, but, ah, "torpedo" rights are.

[Constitution Day]

Blah. I retract my previous second.

[areafiftyone]

The one in the NY Daily News was in Black and White. Black and White Pictures always make you look 10 times better because you can't see any flaws on your face!

[CanisMajor2002]

I'm so confused. Did Congress make a law saying she can't be topless? Why is New York paying the fine?

And where are the pictures?! :)

[hgro]

New York City officials are a bunch of boobs.

[ZinGirl]

you're so picky....I'll be if she had been a redhead....

;) back from Florida....why don't I live there? inquiring minds want to know...

[areafiftyone]

**GROAN**

[Constitution Day]

Picky? Moi?
I prefer to think of myself as a man of discerning taste.

As to FL, I don't know!
It's beautiful, and I love to visit, but I still prefer my uncrowded part of NC.

Of course, my friend mykdsmom just had to tell me about how nice the weather was in FL when I spoke to her yesterday. :)
Meanwhile, it was chilly here in NC over the weekend!

I need a vacation!

[Mustang]

I haven't been to Coney Island since 1957. Do you know if any of the old rides and Steeplechase are still there?

If they are..and the mermaid is scheduled to 'show' up...just might take a visit. :-D

Mustang sends from "Malpaso" News.

[ZinGirl]

weeeelllll....I'll have to admit that I 'accidentally' married into in-laws with a house on the beach...with a pool and the Indian River as the backyard.

so what AM I DOING HERE? *sigh*

[WaveThatFlag]

Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in in.

[headsonpikes]

"A woman has a constitutional right to appear in public topless..."

Men, let's stand up for that right!

[areafiftyone]

Here is a link to the website for Coney Island's Astroland Park ASTROLAND.

I haven't been there since 1980. Its still open! When I went there they had POP (Pay One Price!) to go on all the rides for one price but I don't know if they still do it. It's been such a long time. I went to Coney Island Aquarium a few times though more recently. The Original Nathans is still there!

[Blueflag]

Freerepublic, assisted by Google.com is an amazing place for 'facts' wink wink

http://www.princessatlarge.com/gunderson.htm

mature prurient voyeurs click above for pix of Ms. gunderson in her mermaid (lack of) regalia.

Do not go here if offended by revealing pix of silly people.

[areafiftyone]

ROFLMAO - Guess what I just found. I went on the website for Coney Island's Astroland Park and I found TA DA!!!

JUNE 21 MERMAID PARADE 2PM - MIDNIGHT

[Luis Gonzalez]

Boy...if these people ever showed up in Key West during Fantasy Fest (Monday to be specific), they'd arrest everyone. The most that women wear that night is an airbrushed outfit.

Do a GOOGLE on the words "fantasy fest nudes" and check out party.razortgp, but first you better tell the kids to leave the room.

[areafiftyone]

Check out my post #29 if you men are interested! HEH HEH!

[green team 1999]

pamela anderson can do a better job,

[Old Professer]

I jumped all over this thread, all primed to ask the $64,000 question: How can you tell it's a mermaid from a bust?

I naturally assumed it was another piece of trashy art.

[Mustang]

Thanks A51. Nathans are the Best dogs, ever! Once upon a time there was a great Nathans in Oceanside, L.I. It was a big place w/ enclosed giant eating area and stage in the back. Their dogs, clams, cold beer, and just about whatever ya' wanted, they had. It's gone now, replaced by a much smaller Nathans fast food joint on the corner, ala Burger King... at least it was there when I visited my home town turf during the late 80's.

Again, thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

[areafiftyone]

You are welcome! Its the only original Nathan's left - It sad. I remember a huge one on Times Square when I was little. I loved it!

[mykdsmom]

I was thinking the same thing. Last time I went to Fantasy Fest was 10 years ago but the nudity boggled the mind.

Of course the things the "so-called" men did with womens lingerie was well.......lets just say "interesting", too.

Airbrushed or not I saw a LOT of upper body nudity on women that weekend, most of it on the floats.

MKM

[Doctor Raoul]

Free The Coney Island Two

[cyborg]

Oh please... My mother has been taking me to Carnaval in the British West Indies for a long time. That's nothing compared to what you see at Carnaval in Brazil and Trinidad. Prudes costing tax payer money.