KEY POINTS:
"We want porn," yelled one young man as about 100 protesters preceded the Boobs on Bikes parade down Queen St yesterday.
Instead, the tens of thousands of lunchtime spectators were confronted with banners proclaiming "Pornography fuels sexual violence to women and children".
The protesters, including five Auckland City councillors - Cathy Casey, Glenda Fryer, Leila Boyle, Denise Roche and Graeme Easte - and Auckland Regional councillor Sandra Coney, marched peacefully ahead of the main event.
Sam Holden, a 22-year-old law student, joined the protest out of a belief the parade was degrading to women. "It tries to present itself as something that liberates women but in fact it sexualises women," he said.
June Sunkel, director of the Salvation Army Bethany Centre for unsupported pregnant women and young mothers, was another to join the protest.
"We have evidence of young women who are affected by pornography and men think it is okay to make money out of sex," she said.
Hecklers had a ball as the protesters moved down Queen St. "Show us your tits" was the predictable taunt. Others included "you guys need some fun in your lives" and "get off your high horse".
When the parade reached the bottom of Queen St at Britomart, the protesters turned and faced the oncoming Boobs on Bikes parade with their banners.
Pornographer and parade organiser Steve Crow was in the lead car and the first to pass. He ignored his opponents. One bare-breasted women on a tank gave the fingers.
Cathy Casey, who had earlier threatened to lie on the street to stop the parade, said the protesters had chosen to be low key to get the message across that pornography fuels sexual violence against women and children.
Another lead protester, lawyer Denise Richie, said: "What an amazing crowd for us to get our message across to."
