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2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: Parks Interim Superintendent moves to ban ALL events with nude components + World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) Seattle
From: The Organic Living Party (OLP)
Date: July 10, 2007

Contact & General Info:

• Conrad Schmidt (WNBR Founder/Vancouver Coord.) (604) 215 - 9395 / Email: [email protected]
• Graham Lee (WNBR UK Press Officer) Mobile: 07956 261902 / Email: [email protected]
• Daniel Johnson (WNBR Global/Seattle) (206) 369 - 2661 Mobile / Email: [email protected]
• Global websites: http://worldnakedbikeride.org and http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org
• Seattle websites: http://WNBRseattle.org and http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Seattle
• Seattle Parks & Recreation
  • Public Information Office: Dewey Potter, Manager (206) 684-7241 / Email [email protected]
  • Interim Superintendent Betty Jean "B.J." Brooks (206) 684-8011 / Email [email protected]

(SECTION 1) Regarding Seattle Parks & Recreation Interim Superindent BJ Brooks' move to impede naked cyclists and local ecology-themed advocacy events, reversing 2006 Parks policy on allowing events to be permitted that contain nudity:

Less than two weeks before the July 14, 2007 date for Seattle WNBR, Organizer Daniel Johnson was alerted by phone that the Seattle Parks & Recreation Interim Superintendent, BJ Brooks, gave new guidance to staff to not approve any permits for events that include a naked component. This means annual first amendment, ecology and recreational events such as World Naked Bike Ride Seattle, Magnuson Beach Bares Social as well as two new ecology startup events, Hemp Ride and the Sustainability Arts Festival at Magnuson Park, will not receive permits.

Johnson says, "this decision is extremely detrimental to Seattle culture, constitutionally-protected free speech and environmental advocacy. It defiantly reverses previous Parks policy of not preventing legal events to occur based on perceived potential offensiveness." Johnson adds, "Former Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds as recently as 2006 stated:

"While public nudity is objectionable to many citizens, under Washington state’s Indecent Exposure Law, public nudity in itself is not illegal. The law specifies that “A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm.” In order to file a formal complaint, a citizen can contact police to report the particular behavior and register his or her willingness to testify in court if the nude person is cited for indecent exposure.

"Public officials cannot prevent an event from happening on the basis of its potential offensiveness, only on the basis of its being illegal. The World Naked Bike Ride you encountered was not illegal." (Reference: http://naked.wikia.com/wiki/Seattle_history )

After making several requests from the Seattle Parks & Recreation Public Information Office, and after his third permit was rejected shortly after receiving encouraging feedback from Parks Use Events Stafff, the WNBR development team has not received any written communication on why the new policy was adopted. "We don't know whether it came as a result of citizen input, if was made purely based on BJ Brooks' bias or where BJ Brooks is getting the legal authority to block first amendment events such as WNBR," Johnson states. "We do know that we only received three complaints during our nine hour, 27 mile WNBR event last year, which is exceptionally low considering we rode in areas of Seattle that have never been host to these types of events."

Nexus, another WNBR organizer, points out that the Mayor's priorities include respecting diverse cultures. The Mayor's policy reads:

Healthy Communities are the heart of a great city. Every part of this city is unique and vital to our growth and our ability to sustain what we love about living and working here. Our diverse cultures bring life, vitality and economic growth to Seattle. As Mayor, I want to foster a renewed commitment to our neighborhoods. That means paying attention to the needs of each community and responding to those needs in a meaningful way. (Reference: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/PRIORITIES.htm )

Johnson says, "After talking with several Parks & Recreation officials about this, all of them stated that it was a decision that came directly from BJ Brooks and they had no idea why the decision was made. The timing of this action and the fact that no explanation has been given is completely rude and unprofessional. This office clearly has no accountability to the general public and has no respect for long-established and favorably-received Seattle cultural traditions, constitutionally-protected free speech, nor Seattle's sustainability and body-positive communities."

Johnson believes that these actions against local artists and activists reinforce a pattern of BJ Brooks of working against first amendment- and ecology-themed advocacy activities that she was involved in during her duties as Manager of Denver Parks & Recreation.

Johnson states: "While serving with the City of Denver she defended a policy of not allowing first amendment events involving marching unless they had $1 million dollars worth of insurance for possible damage and hired off-duty police officers. These outrageously expensive and repressive demands resulted in an ACLU lawsuit brought against the City. According to the ACLU, the lawsuit cites 'unconstitutional infringement upon the right of free expression'. (Reference: http://www.theroc.org/updates/denver.htm )

Johnson also cites another example of Brooks blatantly disregarding the concerns of local environmental groups in favored of monied interests. Johnson says, "In Denver Ms. Brooks was on the Winter Park Recreational Association board, which overlooked potentially wiping out cutthroat trout in favor of increasing a resort's profitability by allowing new access roads to a local ski resort." (Reference: http://www.westword.com/1997-07-10/news/up-the-creek/ )

"The Sustainability Arts Festival that we are planning is focused on permaculture and organic living. The fact that there will be a skinny dipping component in an area that has been used for clothing-optional recreation for at least the last thirty plus years (Reference: http://MagnusonBeach.org ) is just plain naive and shows just how insensitive she is to local cultural traditions and how far she is willing to go to snub an entire environmentally-themed event to satisfy her gymnophobic hang-ups." Johnson states.

Johnson says "Ms Brooks should not be in a position of authority to approve or disapprove of Seattle cultural/political events. Her preemptive actions against us and the lack of accountability from her office is deplorable. For the sake of safeguarding Seattle culture and the sanctity of constitutionally-protected free expression in this city she needs to make a correction on her stance on this issue, before the Mayor selects a new superintendent to fill the position left by Ken Bound's retirement."

(SECTION 2) Regarding World Naked Bike Ride Seattle:

On Saturday, June 9, 2007, thousands of people in cities around the world rode bikes and skated naked in a protest against car culture, to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and to celebrate sustainable transport and the power and individuality of the human body. Cyclists took their lawful place on the road, rather than being forced into the gutter or the dangerous "car door" lane. Mass-cycling events such as WNBR encourage greater use of bicycles as a means of transport as bikes are cleaner, safer and environmentally friendly. Cyclists take off their clothes in defiance of the body-negative view that the unclothed body is disgusting, indecent and unlawful and should only be ghettoized to non-public spaces.

This is the fourth year that Seattle will be staging the event.

Seattle's 2006 ride was a runaway success, with ~65 riders riding through the city's busiest streets and continuing onward towards Seward Park. The thousands of Seattlites and tourists who witnessed the ride were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, supportive and entertained. The event even inadvertingly crashed the first annual Discover Seattle: Newcomers Fair at the Seattle Center. WNBR is the largest naked protest in Seattle history. No arrests have ever taken place at WNBR Seattle and none are anticipated this year.

The theme for WNBR Seattle 2006 was "Harnessing the power of the human body and spirit: celebrating human-powered transportation solutions and the exuberance of body-positive expression." Individuals are empowered to make their own decisions on what to wear, without regard to what Big Brother or nanny citizens would prefer. Both nudity and clothing is optional, and riders are encouraged to go "as bare as you dare!" Body paint, bike art and wild costumes are also encouraged during the event's body painting party, which begins 3.5 hours before the ride leaves Fairview Park, around 12:30 PM (Note new location and time).

The local Seattle ride aims to bring more awareness to sharing the road with cyclists; the need to fix specific local deathtraps encountered by cyclists; to establish safer bikeways and to promote a general culture of walkable, bicycle-friendly communities. Seattle WNBR/OLP coordinator Daniel Johnson says: "We need to have safe, car-free walkable urban spaces and bikeways to get people comfortable enough to get out of their cars and onto bicycles."

Seattle WNBR also wishes to promote accessible, family-friendly, clothing-optional areas on local beaches, reflecting the increasingly culturally-diverse and body-positive population of the region. Johnson believes that "Seattle's 'No Bare Buns' beach policy is out of touch not only with Seattle culture, but with other modern western cities as well. Judging by the lack of initiative on this issue, it seems to me this city is governed by people who have never travelled outside the country, never been to a nude beach or hot spring and do not understand the simple joy of skinny-dipping or social nudity. City representatives unfortunately seem suspicious of the motivations of a flourishing Seattle naked culture with the result being that our police are put in the awkward position of getting involved in a cultural issue. Our representatives talk about cultural diversity, but they seemed so concerned about offending a few prudes, that they always settle for the lowest common denominator of cultural freedoms. We simply want the same opportunities for non-sexualized, clothing-optional recreation that other progressive cities have. No taxation without representation!"

The first WNBR Seattle ride in 2004 established a tradition of stopping at the Seattle Center's International Fountain for a brief splash and symbolic show of solidarity with other cities holding WNBR events the same day before riding through Downtown Seattle and Capital Hill. The 2005 ride featured stops at Seattle's new City Hall/Civic Plaza, Denny Park and Volunteer Park. The 2006 ride began the tradition of stopping at Cal Anderson Park, a new event called Yoga in the Park with Matt Meko at Madrona Park overlooking Lake Washington as well as the final Lake Washington Blvd. segment of the route where riders participate in the Group Health Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays event, which includes a ride through and stop at Seward Park.

In 2005, a third naked cycling event, Body Pride Ride (BPR), made its debut, joining the Solstice Cyclists and Seattle WNBR and establishing Seattle as the city with the most annual naked/painted bike rides in the world. In 2007, WNBR Seattle organizers will add to that count with the debut of WNBR Night Ride events and Hemp Ride http://hempride.org the week before Seattle Hempfest weekend. The latter will start at Magnuson Park on Saturday, August 11, 2007.

# # #

2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) Seattle (3rd Annual) - Saturday, June 10, 2006
From: The Work Less Party (WLP) USA and The Organic Living Party (TOLP)
Date: June 3, 2006

Contact & General Info:

Conrad Schmidt (WNBR Founder/Vancouver Coord.) (604) 215 - 9395 / Email: [email protected]
Graham Lee (WNBR UK Press Officer) Mobile: 07956 261902 / Email: [email protected]
Daniel Johnson (WNBR Co-founder/Seattle Coord.) (See Contact info online)
Global websites: http://worldnakedbikeride.org and http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org
Seattle websites: http://WNBRseattle.org and http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Seattle

On Saturday, June 10, 2006, hundreds of people in cities around the world will be riding bikes and skating naked in a protest against car culture, to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and to celebrate sustainable transport and the power and individuality of the human body. Cyclists will take their lawful place on the road, rather than being forced into the gutter or the dangerous "car door" lane. Mass-cycling events such as WNBR encourage greater use of bicycles as a means of transport as bikes are cleaner, safer and environmentally friendly. Cyclists also take off their clothes in defiance of the body-negative view that the unclothed, natural body is disgusting, indecent, sinful, lewd and unlawful and should only be ghettoized to non-public spaces.

This year, five Pacific Northwest cities take part in WNBR, joining 50 other cities as part of a growing international movement of annual protests against oil dependency. This is the third year that Seattle will be staging the event.

Seattle's 2005 ride was a runaway success, with 63 riders riding through the city's busiest streets for three hours, despite heavy rains. The thousands of Seattlites and tourists who witnessed the ride were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, supportive and entertained. The ride was the largest naked protest in Seattle history. No arrests have ever taken place at WNBR Seattle and none are anticipated this year.

The theme for WNBR Seattle 2005 is "Harnessing the power of the human body and spirit: celebrating human-powered transportation solutions and the exuberance of body-positive expression." Individuals are empowered to make their own decisions on what to wear, without regard to what Big Brother or nanny citizens would prefer. Both nudity and clothing is optional, and riders are encouraged to go "as bare as you dare!" Body paint, bike art and wild costumes are also encouraged during the event's body painting party, which begins at 9 am, three hours before the ride leaves Gas Works Park, around 12 noon. This year's special musical guest is Mariachi Festival Mexicana, performing from 11 am - 12 pm at Gas Works Park.

The local Seattle ride aims to bring more awareness to sharing the road with cyclists; the need to fix specific local deathtraps encountered by cyclists; to establish safer bikeways and to promote a general culture of walkable, bicycle-friendly communities. Seattle WNBR/TOLP coordinator Daniel Johnson says, "Mayor Nickels' 2006 Transportation Initiative looks too much like auto traffic welfare than a plan that is in the spirit of his successful nationwide crusade in support of Kyoto Protocol compliance against global warming. We need to have safe, car-free walkable urban spaces and bikeways to get people comfortable enough to get out of their cars and onto bicycles. Many resistant car drivers must be able to pre-visualize a safe commute to work before they give up their car commuting habits. There are too many bike lanes in Seattle which are in serious neglect, falling well below proper maintenance and safety guidelines. In some cases, SDOT only has enough of a budget to maintain brush and tree limbs along well-used bike paths once a year, making some bikeways unsafe, if not completely unusable – an insult to all taxpaying cyclists who are going out of their way to make a difference. Cyclists are wiping out on abandoned criss-crossing train tracks in the road on major bikeways and are often pinned in between high speed traffic and dangerous car-door opening regions of the streets. The city must refocus its priorities if we are going to see a cultural change away from the deterioration of our economy, safety and quality of life brought about by auto traffic and oil dependency."

WNBR Seattle also wishes to promote accessible, family-friendly, clothing-optional areas on local beaches, reflecting the increasingly culturally-diverse and body-positive population of the region. Johnson believes that Seattle's 'No Bare Buns' beach policy is out of touch not only with Seattle culture, but with other modern western cities as well. Johnson states, "Judging by the lack of initiative on this issue, Seattle is governed by people who have never travelled outside the country, never been to a nude beach or hot spring and do not understand the simple joy of skinny-dipping or social nudity. It might well be worth it to send the City Council on a field trip to explore the dozens of clothing-optional beaches in California, or to popular beaches in neighboring Portland or Vancouver BC or perhaps we could just send them to Europe. Our representatives talk about cultural diversity, but they seemed so concerned about offending a few prudes, that they always settle for the lowest common denominator of cultural expression, which completely disenfranchises a large segment of the population from having any kind of community pride. It is no wonder there are so many groups getting involved in the Seattle Free Beach Campaign. We simply want the same opportunities for non-sexualized, clothing-optional recreation that other progressive cities have. If others have free beaches, why can't we? No taxation without representation!"

The first WNBR Seattle ride in 2004 established a tradition of stopping at the Seattle Center's International Fountain for a brief splash and symbolic show of solidarity with other cities holding WNBR events the same day before riding through Downtown Seattle and Capital Hill. The 2005 ride featured stops at Seattle's new City Hall/Civic Plaza, Denny Park and Volunteer Park.

On June 10th, 2006, after completing the first leg from Gas Works to the International Fountain, the second, longer leg of the Seattle ride will continue briefly though Downtown before embarking on a bike tour to Seward Park, which will be hosting Group Health Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays. Before reaching Seward Park there will be a brief yoga stretch at Madronna Park overlooking Lake Washington, provided by Mekosun.

In 2005, a third naked cycling event, Body Pride Ride (BPR), made its debut, joining the Painted Solstice Cyclists and Seattle WNBR and establishing Seattle as the city with the most annual naked/painted bike rides in the world. In 2006, WNBR Seattle organizers will add to that count with the debut of Hemp Ride http://hempride.org during Seattle Hempfest weekend. 2006 will also mark the 15th anniversary of streaking cyclists participating in the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade, which later influenced the development and popularity of the painted and costumed Solstice Cyclists troupe, one of the largest (last year's count was about 160 riders) and most popular of the Parade's ensembles.