The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) was held in Madison, WI this year, and the “clothing optional” event left parents fuming about what they considered an inappropriate event. The event is held every year, with naked bike riders participating to protest things such as climate change and promote “body positivity.” Republicans in the state tried to have the event banned last year after there were reports of a 10-year-old child participating in the event. It was determined, however, that no laws were broken by the child’s participation.

Jeff Weigand, board supervisor of the 20th district in Dane County, WI, shared his disdain for the event on Fox News. “We need to protect children. And that’s government’s fundamental role as to protect innocence and to protect good and to punish evil. And when we see this type of behavior happening, especially to our children, it’s absolutely appalling and we cannot allow it to happen,” he said. He called the event “evil” and accused participants of promoting an agenda. “It’s really inexcusable that this type of behavior continues to happen. And it’s, and it’s really, frustrating that law enforcement continues to allow it to happen, when it really shouldn’t be taking place in the first place,” he said, lamenting the legislature’s inability to pass a “nudity bill” that would have prohibited the presence of children at such events. One participant of the event said they are encouraged by the presence of families. “One of the things that I love about the ride is seeing families out there with parents with their kids saying, ‘Hey, look at the naked riders. Wave at the naked riders,’ things like that. The ones that are doing that are sending their children very important message that this is not weird, this is not strange.” Proponents of the event say it is a matter of their First Amendment rights.

Weigand, however, disagrees. “The proponents of this naked bike ride say that they have the freedom to protest, and they absolutely do. But when their freedom to protest violates my freedom, and it forces me to see something that I don’t want to see or I don’t want my children to see, that’s a violation of my freedom, and that’s a violation of my liberty. And that’s where they cross the line,” he said. He has vowed to continue to fight against such events, despite some of the hiccups legislators have hit in trying to get the wording just right. Until that can happen, he said participants should “enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ.”