Holding signs that say “penis cutting is a sex crime,” or “defend the defenseless,” the group wants to do away with circumcision as a common medical practice in the US. Circumcision is the removal of a boy’s foreskin from the end of his penis. It is often done in US hospitals on the 2nd or 3rd day after birth, and it’s a traditional practice for some Jews and Muslims.
David Atkinson of Boston held a sign that said “stop cutting baby penis.” He says part of their mission is to break through bias toward circumcising and get information about options to new parents.
“And the foreskin’s a normal, healthy, valuable part of the human body. So, we are here to warn American parents that their children are in danger shortly after birth in hospitals, and to give parents the information and confidence that they need to protect their children.”
The group, called “Bloodstained Men,” says their take is an ethical and rights-based position supporting bodily autonomy.
Mathew Kinnison of Erie, Pennsylvania held a sign that said “circumcision kills 100 boys per year.”
“One of my nephews, he ended up getting cut when he was two days old. He was back in the hospital at four days old, fighting for his life; he ended up developing a M-R-S-A infection at the site of his circumcision. And because of that, I decided at that point, something's gotta be done about this.”
Kinnison had researched circumcision before, and became an advocate against it. When the “Bloodstained Men” came to his hometown, he joined up with them. Now he takes a few days off from his job every year to tour with the group.
They in Alaska through Sunday. They’ve been in Southcentral and the Kenai, and now North Pole and Fairbanks.
David Wilson of Coco Beach, Florida is the founder of the Stop Infant Circumcision Society. He’s a regular demonstrator in Washington D.C. each spring for what his group calls Genital Integrity Awareness Week. He’s retired now and travels to information events around the country.
At the largest roundabout in downtown North Pole, Wilson, Kinnison and the other protesters are wearing a costume of all-white pants and shirt, and even a cowboy hat, except for a large red mark at the crotch of the pants.
“This implies everything is pure. It's white except for where we were mutilated, the damage that was done here. Um, but this puts a spotlight on it,” Wilson said.
“What's important, it is the biggest way to get attention. It, it grabs your attention. You can't miss it. And regardless of whether you are laughing at us or you know, taking it seriously, you're still going to take the picture, you're still gonna share it to your friends. You're still getting the word out that, hey, there are people out there that are opposed to circumcision,” Kinnison said.
So, whether we get good press or bad press, it's going to get the word out there, it's going to spread the message. And you are potentially saving a baby from this,” Kinnison said.
A young Fairbanks mother, Maple Doyle, heard about the protest and brought her children to the roundabout.
“I had my son, and we protected him from sexual harm. I think all boys deserve to make that decision for themselves.”
The protesters handed out cards with biological information about male genitals or with website information for various anti-circumcision organizations.
