SALT LAKE CITY – Hundreds of people braved the cooler temperatures and ran around downtown Salt Lake City Sunday in nothing but their underwear.
Event organizers said they don't tell people who attend the free speech event what to advocate for, and participants pushed for everything from legalizing marijuana to same-sex marriage reform and autism awareness.
Event organizer Eric Steen said the event takes a unique approach to pushing for reform.
"You can go out in suits and picket signs and stuff like that and make a statement, but nobody really looks at those guys," Steen said. "But you go out in your underwear, everyone's going to look at you to see what's going on."
The annual charity event and free speech protest underwent some changes this year, and event organizer Nate Porter told FOX 13 News they had to reschedule the event as well as change the name.
Rescheduling the run means it took place the same weekend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Semiannual General Conference brought thousands of Mormon faithful downtown. Those who organized the run said the timing was a coincidence and not intentional.
Several weeks ago, event organizers were told they would have to pay several thousands of dollars to carry out the run as a planned event, in order to pay for police and other resources. Instead, event organizers changed the date and made the event a free speech protest.
The run began Sunday at 4 p.m. at Library Square, 200 East 400 South, in downtown Salt Lake City. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
Related story: Photos: Utah Undiewear Run 2013
