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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge appears ready to allow San Francisco's public nudity ban to go into effect on Feb. 1.

Public nudity activists filed a federal lawsuit seeking to invalidate the new law. They argue that the government-ordered cover up violates their First Amendment right to express their political views.

But U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen said Thursday that it takes more than simply disrobing in public to make a political statement.

However, the judge ruled neither on the city's motion to dismiss the lawsuit nor the activists' request to block the law until the suit is resolved.

Chen said he would issue a written ruling on the competing requests before the end of the month.