An anti-pornography group staged a protest Saturday in front of a local convenience store that sells adult magazines behind the counter.
Utahns for Decency, a 15-year-old group that has worked to help officials draft and enforce anti-pornography laws and has organized boycotts of businesses that sell adult magazines, brought out about 20 people for a two-hour protest in front of the Circle K at 2000 East and 2700 South.The protest was part of a nationwide demonstration organized by the Christian, Mississippi-based American Family Association.
Specifically, the protesters object to the adult magazines Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler, which Circle K sells behind the counter. Protesters say those magazines sometimes begin an addiction that leads to hard-core pornography and violence.
Organizers cited the examples of executed murderers Ted Bundy and Arthur Bishop, who both said pornography helped lead them to commit some of their crimes.
Protest organizer Callie McMurdie said nationwide protesters helped get Circle K's competitor, 7-11, to stop selling the adult magazines, and they hope they can have success with Circle K because its top official is a practicing Baptist.
McMurdie said people are free to read the magazines in the privacy of their homes, but a family convenience store "is not the place," she said.
Circle K officials responded with little fanfare. A clerk said the picket's publicity helped business.
Lonna Nixon, the Circle K Corp. district manager in Salt Lake City, said Circle K respects the groups' right to protest. Circle K works hard to prevent people under 21 from purchasing the magazines and alcohol, she said.
She said the chain is exercising its rights under the Constitution by letting customers buy the magazines.
McMurdie said the group has watched stores, and Circle K stores usually follow ordinances that require adult magazines to be covered except for their titles if they are displayed in stores frequented by children.
The protest went without significant incident, but several passers-by made angry comments to those picketing.
While the protest was going on outside the store, a neighbor carried out a personal protest against what she feels is an attempt to hinder a person's right to choose.
After hearing of the protest, she went to the store, and, for the first time purchased an adult magazine.
She said she opposes pornography for the way it exploits women. But she disagreed with the protesters' logic that pornography leads to violent acts.