Sup. Jeff Weigand files police complaint.
Dane County Supervisor Jeff Weigand (Marshall) is calling on Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and Madison police to investigate a minor’s participation in the Naked Bike Ride in Madison Saturday 06-17-23. Weigand, the lone vote against making the county a transgender sanctuary, said this:
“A concerned Dane County citizen sent me an e-mail and photograph alleging that a child was allowed to participate in Madison’s Naked Bike Ride. The photograph shows what appears to be a child, surrounded by naked adults riding bicycles around the Wisconsin Capital. I have e-mailed Sheriff Barrett and have asked that his department investigate this matter. In addition, I have filed a complaint with the Madison Police Department.
“Our law enforcement officers need to investigate this matter and enforce our laws. If a child was allowed to participate in this naked bike ride, any and all adults who supported and condoned this need to be arrested immediately.”
Before the event, Madison police warned citizens “upset over this event and concerned about children witnessing the activity” that “historically, the group does not announce their route until 24 hours prior to the ride, and then only to those who are a part of their group.” MPD further stated:
Given there are no laws currently in place that prohibit this activity, MPD’s role will be to make the event safe for all participants and to allow them to exercise their First Amendment rights. We encourage participants to obey all traffic laws pertaining to bicycles and to also respect the rights of non-participants.
— Madison Police Department
Blaska’s Bottom Line: “No laws in place?”
23 responses to “Child involved in naked bike ride?”
Wasn’t this legislated years ago when some women were topless in James Madison Park? As I recall, it’s legal to be naked in public, in Madison, regardless of your age, as long as you don’t ‘excite’ bystanders, no?
It’s not illegal in Madison for women and men to go topless in public. Merely tasteless. Last year about this time local character Lily Luxe walked past me topless on Capitol Square. In solidarity with what cause, I forget.
[…] This post originally appeared at https://davidblaska.com/2023/06/22/child-involved-in-naked-bike-ride/ […]
Why do some people get arrested for exposure, i. e., a portion of one’s body. but doing the full monty is not an issue? It just doesn’t seem fair.
Also, is it sexist to want the riders’ genders to be 50/50?
I’m sure the group of riders attending would love for it to be 50/50. The problem lies with a society that views nudity as sexual instead of just natural and their comfort level in having the pictures taken and posted to the internet.
Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 944
Crimes Against Sexual Morality: “In Wisconsin, it’s illegal to participate in sexual activity and ‘lewd’ behavior in public, commonly referred to as indecent exposure. The state’s goals in having these sexual morality laws are to protect children from exposure to these sexual activities and to prevent unwilling adults from seeing them while in public.”
They’re not doing anything sexual or lewd so the law you’re looking at would not apply. Plus, it is a protest ride and often protesters are allowed to do things to express themselves that wouldn’t normally be allowed on a day to day basis. As for the children I really don’t understand the point you’re trying to make as everyone knows nudity is not harmful to children in any way. If it was harmful nudist resorts wouldn’t be allowed to permit children on their property.
By your illogic, one can justify bombing Sterling Hall because it was a “protest.”
So, in your opinion a naked person is as bad as a bombing? That is a pretty extreme stance.
Are you intentionally obtuse? The point is trying to justify wrong doing by wrapping it in the flag of protest. But we can play your game: So, in your opinion, are you saying child sexual abuse is a permissible protest?
In both of your replies you’re trying to compare harming groups of people to a peaceful non-harmful protest. Bombing a building in protest or abusing children as a protest is significantly different than riding a bicycle or don’t you see the difference? No harm vs lots of harm. Is it the same thing to you? Nudity does ZERO harm to other people. It should not even be illegal. How can a country profess to be at all free with a restriction on something as simple as clothing? People all over your country and mine were protesting a possible health measure over forced masking well at the same time completely mute on forced clothing. Doesn’t make sense. Nudity might be yucky to some but that’s it. Yucky but harmless should be the basis for a law.
Despicable Lefty is in a Grooming/Recruitment Phase…
The Gotch
define “grooming/recruitment” pickle boy.
What you & your despicable Lefty cohorts do to…um…attract new members to your…er…preference.
The Gotch
Pretty sad response crotch. The same can be said about Jim Jordon searching for new members for his collage wrestling team. despicable righties. Pretty convenient that the team Doc killed ???? himself befor the s@#t hit the fan.
no laws against public nudity? Go stand in your driveway sans vesture and you will learn which laws apply….
They don’t publish their route, but they do a similar route every year. They want to maximize their audience, so you can always bet on them going around the square and up/down State St during the Farmers’ Market on a Saturday. They want as much exposure (no pun intended) as possible! I’ve happened upon them in years past. No one wants to see men’s junk splayed out on a bike seat! Eww.
[…] • Police say no law broken in 10-year-old girls’ Naked Bike Ride. (The WI State Journal followup to our story.) […]
Eccentric people in Madison? Shocked!
What was the ratio of (gay) men to women this year? 90/10? So much for crushing the patriarchy.
Although I’m sure there were probably gay men and women there it is not a gay event. It is a naturist and environmentalist event. So the ratio is probably more like 1:1 since not many women feel safe with so many perverted men, both married and unmarried.
What’s it REALLY all about…?
The Gotch
Tom: People who allow nude photos of themselves and their children to be
posted on social media risk attracting sexual predators. That is child abuse. “Yucky but harmless”, huh? I call it tasteless and dangerous exhibitionism.
Sorry, I’m not entirely sure what you mean. By attracting sexual predators do you mean to future rides to stare at the kids there? It’s possible. However, sexual predators have been known, I think, to hang out at parks, outdoor public swimming pools, school gyms, churches, playgrounds, sports arenas, and more. Not sure if a once a year bike ride will be worse. The worst part, I agree, is the social media and the possibility the kids image ends up circulating online. I’m sure the same happens at beaches and all the other places I mentioned above. Whether the parents thought of that before taking her with them in the ride we don’t know. Is it child abuse that it could attract child sexual predators? Only if there’s a risk of abduction in broad daylight in front of her parents.