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Topless parade gridlocks New Zealand city

Wellington: Tens of thousands of people crowded the downtown area of New Zealand’s biggest city on Wednesday to watch about 30 topless women riding motorcycles and open-top cars along the main street.

The annual parade — described as pornography by opponents and freedom of expression by the organisers — attracts a mainly male audience to Auckland’s Queen Street. The lunch-hour parade is to promote a weekend erotica show in the city.

Thousands took pictures with digital cameras and cell phones while some sought out vantage points on top of phone booths, bus shelters and on balconies overlooking the route.

About 100 protesters, some carrying a banner that read “Pornography fuels sexual violence against women and children,” walked ahead of the parade. Other protesters walked behind. — AP

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