Stand for Decency, an anti-porn group, held a rally at Utah's state capitol yesterday that drew approximately 500 people. They marched from a nearby church to the Capitol steps, where they competed for space with about 200 people supporting tuition tax credits.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff praised the youth who gathered to protest.
"Porn is very, very dangerous, and you guys are standing up for what is right," he said.
Women for Decency joined the protest, bringing more than 2,000 quilts they had made for abused children and placed them in a pile in the rotunda. The blankets will be distributed through radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger's "My Stuff Bag" foundation.
Maureen Whiteley of Logan, a member of Women for Decency, said she feels "sexually assaulted" each time she goes through grocery store lines and sees even mainstream magazines such as "Shape" and other fitness magazines.
"I think it's detrimental to children," she said. "They begin to feel that it's normal. That makes it easier for them to become involved in higher levels of porn."
Mark Kastleman, author of 'Drug of the New Millennium, told the group his research found pornography had an effect on the brain similar to cocaine.
He said pornography releases chemicals in the brain that causes a rush to help users escape from life's stresses.
The rally was not for any specific piece of legislation, just a general awareness campaign.
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