Naked Protests

It is quite common for protesters to take off their clothes to publicize a political injustice or social issue.  These students are promoting a workers' union.

Generally the nudity has nothing to do with the issue being publicized.  The nudity is meant only to draw viewer attention, and perhaps to emphasize the vulnerability of the protesters in the face of giant corporations or authoritarian governments.  Here, for instance, Tibetan students strip to their underwear to protest Chinese oppression.

The most famous naked protest is the Oblation Run at the University of the Philippines, named after Oblation, a statue of a naked man on campus.  Every December since 1977, members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity have taken off their clothes, put on masks to hide their identity, and run through the streets to promote a designated issue.

Since the protesters are university students, the themes are often educational: no tuition increase, wage increase for university employees, an end to fraternity violence.

Political themes are also common: free and clean elections, the ouster of President Joseph Estrada, an end to martial law on the island of Mindanao.

Fraternities at several University of the Philippines campuses participate, but the most frequent is Dilman, the main campus in Quezon City.

Politicians regularly condemn the Oblation Run as decadent, lewd, and immoral, but there is no law against public nudity in Quezon City, so there's not much that they can do.

Besides, you're supposed to be looking at the signs, not the physiques.

The World Naked Bike Ride

In 2006, fourteen men and women got naked and rode their bicycles through the streets of Melbourne, Australia, in order to demonstrate that bicycling is a safe, environmentally-friendly form of transportation.

During the last twelve years, the World Naked Bike Ride has grown to include thousands of riders in Melbourne and over 50 other cities around the world, including Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco in the United States.

Public nudity is illegal in most cities in the U.S., and many riders have had encounters with the police.  There have been only few arrests, however.


















Sometimes they try to bypass public nudity laws by wearing elaborate body paint instead of clothes.  I think this guy is dressed as a pineapple.

A cloud, maybe?

Riders also take the opportunity to post political or inspirational messages.

















Or messages of other sorts.

Participants come in all sizes and shapes.



















Of course, nothing in the rules says that you have to wear body paint.  You can be "as bare as you dare."

















The next World Naked Bike Ride is March 18th in Melbourne.  In the United States, it will be in June.