Backlash swells against West Roxbury morality police

According to the West Roxbury Transcript, both Gary's Liquors and the Boston Phoenix experienced an upswing in business after Bob Joyce and his Support Community Decency Inc. group protested outside of the West Roxbury liquor store last Saturday, March 29.

Joyce and his handful of supporters claim the Boston Phoenix's adult section is sexually exploitative of women.

Based on the swell of support for both Gary's Liquors and the Boston Phoenix, the general public seems to disagree.

“Free speech is wonderful,” says Peter Kadzis, executive editor of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which publishes the Boston Phoenix. “Thanks to Mr. Joyce’s protest, the Phoenix this Saturday was able to distribute a couple of hundred extra papers in and around Gary’s Liquors. I’m calling it a ‘Democracy Dividend.’”

Kadzis tells the West Roxbury Transcript that between 200 and 300 additional papers were distributed on Saturday alone. And while distribution has dipped slightly in West Roxbury, the Phoenix is adding boxes and has more on order.

According to Gary's Liquors' owner, Gary Park, Joyce and his handful of supporters plan a repeat peformance 1:30-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.

Click here to get the lowdown from my previous post, "West Roxbury Lawyer Fingers Boston Phoenix."