Today is January 26th, 2009. It was a great day for me. I notified the city of Daytona Beach that I intend to do another topless protest in their city on March 8th, 2009 in Riverside Park on the west side of The Main Street Bridge. I drew up my notification letter yesterday. I was quite pleased with it. I mentioned in it that the protest signs would be in all shapes and sizes. I love it! (Just like boobies!) I plan to put my protest signs in Frisbees, too. I’ve already bought a few frisbees for the event. This protest will be along the lines of a peaceful picnic protest. I am considering putting a volleyball net up with a protest sign on it, too. I also plan to bring a lawnchair and a cooler. Of course, I wouldn’t think of coming without my fishing poles! There’s nothing like a peaceful protest spent fishing symbolically topless!(FYI: I made sure that I have a stamped copy of my notification to Daytona Beach for my own files.)
I must say that I do love to be inventive with the First Amendment. It’s been quite a ride, this fight for a gentle freedom. I have learned that every small voice does count and can make a difference. I have known descimating take downs and let downs during the past four years of fighting for this small freedom for women. Yet, many times I have known the great joy of a well fought for victory.
Joy is the ultimate of happiness. So few of us experience it in our lives. I can truthfully say that I have experienced quite a bit of it during my trials and tribulations with Daytona. I am grateful for that. I have learned the wonderful power and strength of the First Amendment. Now, I intend to show people how well the gentle pursuit of a freedom can rock.
I have enjoyed fishing in protest by the Main Street bridge. I always manage to pull up something common to these waters. Like a little red snapper, that snapped in the front. Or the great white double D that caught the wind like a kite when I reeled her in. I have joyously danced topless on the coral stones that rest on the shore of the river where we protest. Yes, I have known great joy and I would love to share this joy with others.
I have graciously accepted the thanks of several of Daytona’s police officers and officials. Now they smile when I tell them to prepare for another protest. Hmmmm? I am fine with that. Many of them have shown themselves to be honorable men and women. They have told me often that they were just following orders when they accosted us during our protests in the past. They have told me, too, that they have much more important things to do during the events than chase women around who dared to bare their breasts. One Daytona Beach police officer actually approached me at my last protest and shook my hand. Wow!
For many years, I have referred to my protests as “The Topfree Stand”. “The International Women’s Day Topfree Stand” was just too long of a title. So I now call the protest event, “The International Topfree Stand.” The protest I do during the Biketoberfest event I simply call, “The Topfree Stand”. Maybe I should call it, “The Invincible Topfree Stand”? I’d get those same funny initials, wouldn’t I?
If you would like to experience the joy of being topless out of doors, please feel free to join me On March 8th, International Women’s Day in Daytona Beach. I will be setting up the protest on the west side of the Halifax River by the Main Street Draw Bridge. Just look for the topless blond woman with the golden dew cap, lawnchair, and a protest sign! I will probably arrive around 10 a.m. and I will stay as long as the weather holds or until 7 P.M. (Florida’s weather is usually beautiful in March.)
I should mention that March 8th is a very important holiday for women around the world. It is a United Nations protected and sanctioned holiday for women to speak up on issues concerning our gender. We are protected under it’s cloak, just as we are protected with the cloak of the Constitution of The United States. So bring a lawnchair, suntan lotion, or what ever you would like for this topfree picnic protest. I’ll bring the tunes. We’ll have a ball!
As always, I intend to dedicate my protest to the Troops and our Veteran’s. They fight to protect our rights to free speech. I have fought and won our ability to use those rights.
