Kiwi 'Boobs on Bike' parade draws boos from gals and whistles from guys

Wellington, Aug 20 : The controversial 'Boobs on Bike' parade kicked off amid protests from marchers raising awareness of links between pornography and sexual violence - while thousands of people witnessed the spectacle.

Thousands of spectators, predominantly males, gathered at Auckland's Queen's Street to watch the parade featuring about 30 women on bikes baring their breasts to crowds lining the footpaths.

The huge crowd, at times lined six deep, cheered and snapped the topless women on bikes with cellphones and cameras.

Among those in the demonstration were the members of Auckland Women's Centre, Stop Demand Foundation and four councillors from the city council including Cathy Casey whose legal bid to stop the parade was refused by the a New Zealand.

The protest started about half an hour after the parade started and had about forty protesters.

"It makes objects out of women - it degrades them and we're sick of people like Steve Crow trampling over the values of our country," the NZPA quoted a protester, as saying.

Porn baron and organiser Steve Crow led the parade a black Bentley convertible.

Some people even threw eggs were on Crow from a building on lower Queen St at Mr Crow, with one egg narrowly missing one of four policemen.

Although Auckland police was unable to give a crowd estimate but spokeswoman said an officer Noreen Hegarty quoted the officer in charge as saying "plenty more people than last year."

ANI