The latest nude war protest to sweep the globe was swept out to sea in Southern California.
by George Wolfe
HUNTINGTON BEACH — A nude protest of the war in Iraq took an even more unusual twist today when a high tide wrecked the artwork done at the Orange County event.
The anti-war activists were trying to spell P-E-A-C-E with their bodies on the beach.
Joining with other nude women protesters to mark the day all across the nation, the Huntington Beach event was the biggest of its kind in the Los Angeles / Orange County area. Organizers said that more than 150 women, calling themselves "Unbridled Women of the Southland," took part. "When we get naked, we become more visible because everyone can see us, see? — unless something like this happens... and then we just want to run and hide and become invisible again."
— Sandi Marchant, nude protester Organizer Crystal Kleinhaus noted that, "We disrobe because our sisters overseas have to wear these big heavy robes, even when it's really hot out — that and the war in Iraq."
WORLD PEA**?!:An aerial view of the beach reveals how the women in the last two letters were swept away by the riptide.
Kleinhouse says she got the idea for the Southern California event after she accidentally took too much of a prescription drug. "I saw all these beautiful naked women traipsing around a beach. Then the sky opened and all these bronze angels wearing polka-dot bikinis and purple wings flew down and we all made huge letters with our bodies. It was awesome!"
What started out as a dream, however, ended as a nightmare.
Wrapped in towels, the protesters began to arrive in the wee hours. Plainclothes supporters turned out with signs saying, "Nudity Not Stupidity!", "Bodily Corporations Not U.S. Corporations in Iraq!" and "More Thongs, Less Warmongs!"
It was chilly, with some wispy fog drifting in and a few strong waves creeping up the beach. One event participant, Shaiwana Dewing, described the beginning. "We stripped down and made and started making the letters. We got up to "P-E-A-" but when they got to the "C" things went awry."
According to other witnesses, waves washed over a few of the women and a riptide pulled them out to sea. Those who tried to save the others were pulled out, too. There was widespread panic and the fog made it hard to see. In the end, about eleven women were washed out.
It wasn't immediately clear how many knew how to swim though it is believed that all of the women were returned to dry land. The Coast Guard was called in to retrieve the flailing protesters.
Several of the organizers, though flustered by the debacle, tried to put a positive spin on it. "When we get naked," said Sandi Marchant, "we become more visible because everyone can see us, see? — unless something like this happens... and then we just want to run and hid and become invisible again."
Kleinhaus looked disappointed but reasoned, "Even though we didn't get the chance to fully say our peace, I think that people all over the world will certainly remember what happened here in Orange County and will appreciate our gesture of peace nonetheless."
In Baghdad, speaking through an interpreter, a group of Iraqi woman were informed of the Southern California beach mishap. They spoke among themselves before one responded, "Please, we would all sleep better at night if you American women would stop taking off your clothes on our behalf. Really, we're fine."
FEMALE BONDING: Members of the Unbridled Women of the Southland struggle to keep the anti-war message together.
Politics
