From Staff Reports
About a half-dozen women — a decrease from past years — went topless for they termed gender equality during the sixth annual Go Topless Day rally in downtown Asheville on Aug. 28.
Participants said the event is intended to draw attention to laws and social stigmas about women’s bare breasts in public.
Jeff Johnson, the Huntsville, Ala.-based rally organizer, opened the rally with a speech of politics and why is is important for women to be able to go topless in public.
“We want to keep the law equal,” Johnson told a cheering crowd. “We want to keep the law vigilant. If the city council or legislature wants to change it, we have our say. We need to recognize the political power females have, especially with their breasts.”
A small group of spectators was there to take photos and pose with participants.
The Go Topless rally falls on the Sunday closest to Women’s Equality Day.
While there has been interest in banning the rally from downtown, city officials have said that state law makes it legal for women to be topless in public.
|