A group of demonstrators clad in white shirts and pants with blood-red splotches over their crotches drew attention in Midtown Anchorage on Sunday.
The protest on the corner of Northern Lights Blvd. and Minnesota Blvd. was organized by The Bloodstained Men, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to ending the common medical practice, which they refer to as genital mutilation. The protest marked the second day of their tour across Alaska, where they plan to visit various locations.
Although protests are a familiar sight in Anchorage, this group’s theatrical appearance stood out. The demonstrators, both men and women, wore white outfits with vivid red markings meant to symbolize what they describe as the physical and emotional harm of infant circumcision.
The organization opposes the surgical removal of the foreskin, which is often performed on newborn boys in hospitals across the United States. Members argue that the procedure is unnecessary, harmful, and performed without the child’s consent.
Signs held by the demonstrators bore slogans such as “Circumcision = Child Abuse,” “Stop Cutting Baby Penis,” and “Nobody Wants Less Penis.”
Circumcision rates in the United States have declined in recent decades, but the practice remains common. In Alaska, rates are lower than the national average, and Medicaid does not routinely cover the procedure unless deemed medically necessary. Many male children born at home or in birthing centers escape the knife.
The Bloodstained Men have taken their protests across the country, often drawing support — and controversy — wherever they appear. They will be touring Alaska through July 13.
