Topless women march in Central Park for right to bare breasts
BY Joe Jackson
DAILY NEWS WRITER
Monday, August 24th 2009, 4:00 AM

Some were shocked. Others disgusted. But for some, it was the breast day ever!

Dozens of semi-nude women gave the city a Double-D eyeful Sunday when they bared their boobs in Central Park and then marched through the streets.

The daring display was part of "National Go-Topless Day" - indeed, there is such a thing - and stunned jaded New Yorkers and wide-eyed tourists alike.

"This is unbelievable - and super," said Dalvin Jan, 21, who rents bicycles for a living on Central Park South. "I'm going to tell my wife to join in."

With Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" blaring from speakers and chants of "free your breasts, free your mind," the troupe of bare-breasted women - and their enthusiastic male supporters - paraded their way along Central Park South.

"We're all here for the same reason - to allow women to be free in the park like men," organizer Sylvie Chabot, 54, of Montreal, told the crowd at a midday rally at Columbus Circle.

Motorists honked their horns in support while bemused tourists took photos from passing tour buses.

"I'm pretty surprised," said Carolyn Meierjurgen, 49, of New Jersey, who was taking a horse carriage ride in the park. "If they want to do it, let them do it. I couldn't," she admitted.

Several unhappy onlookers complained to cops who were powerless to intervene.

New York is the only state in the country where women can be topless legally, after a 1992 ruling in the state's highest court. That means any woman can walk around the city at any time with no shirt on.

Among the speakers was Ramona Santorelli, of upstate Rochester, who was the plaintiff in the 1992 case.

"It's not about baring your breasts," she said. "But the true meaning is to normalize women's bodies."

Yesterday's protesters noted that is not always the case.

Artist Jill Coccaro, who goes by the name Phoenix Feeley, tested the New York law in 2005 after cops arrested her for exposing her breasts on Delancey St. She cited the 1992 ruling when cops grabbed her, but was held for 12 hours. She sued. The city later settled for $29,000.

Topless events took place across the country, from Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio.

Organizers gathered signatures for a petition asking Congress to relax nudity laws, which they plan to hand over on Go-Topless Day next year.

Most passersby were amused by the sight of scores of half-naked people.

"It's nice for them," said unfazed Swedish tourist Birgitta Asplin, 58. "It's the human body - nothing more!"

But others said it was all a very bad idea.

"This is extreme liberalism and why America's in decline," shouted one woman, who said she was a doctor but declined to give her name. "It's degrading to women to tell them to expose their breasts publicly."

"I'm not shocked - we're in New York City," said Lindsay Hall, 28, of Maryland. "But speaking from a woman's perspective, I disagree with them. There's something to be said for modesty," she added.


Topless women and and men march along Central Park South to celebrate 'National Go-Topless' Day in Manhattan Sunday afternoon.

http://www.nydailynews.co..._this.html

Who the hell created this mess

CalhounSq said:

A man I bet.

"I thought it was fuck the boss day".

I'm glad I missed it


The first ones to show their titties are always the ones with the A cups and ones with stretch marks making them look like machelin tires

bboy87 said:

Which reminds me - I wonder how most men would fare in a ball contest Some balls look better than others, ya know

I'm glad I missed it


The first ones to show their titties are always the ones with the A cups and ones with stretch marks making them look like machelin tires

Woman should have the right to go topless. It's ridiculous that they don't.

It's legal to go topless here...but NO ONE does it.

At least we have the choice.

Ya know what? There are more awful boobs than good ones and after seeing those NSFW photos I'm kinda glad I'm flat.

Thanks for posting this!

"This is extreme liberalism and why America's in decline," shouted one woman, who said she was a doctor but declined to give her name. "It's degrading to women to tell them to expose their breasts publicly."

Are you fucking kidding me??

Fuck, some people are soooo backwards.

JustErin said:

That's just one mild example of the backward loons we have in the USA. If you have seen anything in your news reports on CBC about the health care debate going on here in the USA, you'll get a good example of how many crazy people we have. There are a ton of right-wing zealots going around with signs comparing Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler, and others with signs saying his proposed health care program will kill grandma by setting up "death panels". All of this wackiness because he wants to set up an option for people who are out of work and/or can't afford to get private health insurance coverage to have an option to get health coverage much like Medicare.

What's really sad is that you already have single-payer health coverage in your country and don;t have to worry about all the of crap we go through just to get decent health care.

CarrieLee said:

If it stopped you from unnecessarily going under the knife then you are very welcome!

sextonseven said:

Did you see the woman with the peace sign necklace? I'm sorry, but those need to be supported!!! Boobs look 100 times better in bras.

Sorry ladies!



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[Edited 8/25/09 13:21pm]

CalhounSq said:

I'm gonna have mine dipped in wax and incense

Ya know what? There are more awful boobs than good ones and after seeing those NSFW photos I'm kinda glad I'm flat.

Thanks for posting this!

"This is extreme liberalism and why America's in decline," shouted one woman, who said she was a doctor but declined to give her name. "It's degrading to women to tell them to expose their breasts publicly."

Are you fucking kidding me??

Fuck, some people are soooo backwards.