Anna Reed

Statesman Journal

Wearing all white, with red splatters covering their groin areas, five men rallied against circumcision and other forms of genital cutting in Salem on Saturday.

The "Bloodstained Men & Their Friends" gathered on Front Street NE, near Riverfront Park, on Saturday afternoon. It was the 11th day of a 15-day tour of Pacific Northwest cities. The group first rallied at Market Street and Lancaster Drive NE in the morning, and then moved in the afternoon to be closer to the Bite & Brew of Salem festival after receiving tips from local supporters that there would be large crowds.

The intact activists, or "intactivists" were joined by Salem locals and their children for the rally.

"It affects not only the babies, but the men they grow into," said Hannah Kangas, 23, of Salem. Kangas came out to the rally with her two children and hopes to follow the tour to Portland in the coming days to continue spreading awareness.

The group is not associated with any current legislation on circumcision or other forms of genital cutting, but works to raise awareness about the physical and psychological damage circumcision can cause.

While standing with signs reading "Foreskin is not a birth defect!" and "Circumcision = Child Abuse" the group received honks in solidarity of their cause from some passing drivers, and profanities screamed at them by others.

"It is unfair, unequal and completely un-American to completely protect one gender," Jason Fairfield, the media spokesman for the group on this tour, said, referring to laws that protect infant girls from genital mutilation but allow infant boy circumcision.

The tour continues Sunday and Monday with stops in the Portland area. The group will be at the intersection of SE Sunnyside Road and SE 82nd Avenue in Clackamas from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. They will be at the Pioneer Square Courthouse in Portland from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday before making stops in Tacoma and Seattle to finish up the tour.