Over 300 topless protesters march in Manhattan against de Blasio’s effort to rid Times Square of nearly nude women
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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Monday, August 24, 2015, 9:40 AM
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TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSThe annual Topless Parade drew more than 300 participants, as well as many creepy male on-lookers.
The women are nude and the men are rude.
Over 300 topless protesters bashed Mayor de Blasio's effort to banish the bare-breasted painted ladies of Times Square during a march Sunday surrounded by gross guys.
The group of women participated in the annual Topless Parade from Columbus Circle to Bryant Park.
Organizers addressed a large crowd of gawkers and sympathizers, pledging their support to the desnudas of Times Square and asserting their legal right to pop their tops just like men.
“I hope you are here for the right reasons!" Phoenix Feeley, 33, a topless advocate in New Jersey, told the crowd made up mostly of guys. “We have to cover up so you don't attack us? That's your problem. Not ours.”
As she spoke, creepy men took photos and filmed with videocameras. The ogling oafs didn’t even have to bother undressing the women with their eyes.
“I came here to watch t---,” said a man, snapping photos.
The guys looked at each other like they could not believe their luck as they snapped away.
TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSThe march went from Columbus Circle to Bryant Park in Manhattan on Saturday, where protesters spoke out against de Blasio’s effort to rid Times Square of the bare-chesterd ladies there.
“This is sweet. I didn’t know this was happening today. Who doesn’t like breasts?” another man said.
Some of the men in attendance didn’t agree with Feeley.
“These ladies should cover up if they don't want guys to stare at them,” one guy said.
TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS‘Free your mind! Free your nipples!’ one protester shouted during the march.
Katie Lombardo, 26, an event coordinator from Long Island, posed for photos with fans.
"Free your mind! Free your nipples!" she shouted. "Men can walk around shirtless all the time. Why can't we? I love it, This is about the genders being equal."
The topless protesters had extra motivation as city and state officials ponder how to regain control of Times Square, which is teeming with badly behaved costumed characters and topless painted ladies soliciting tips for photos.
Luna Vega, 25, of the Bronx, who also came topless, said the painted ladies of Times Square models shouldn’t be persecuted.
TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSThere were similar events planned in about 60 cities worldwide for the annual Go Topless Day.
"I support them. They are just trying to make a living,” Vega said.
“I always see them smiling and posing for photos. People walk up to them. They want to pose with them.”
In Times Square, some of the desnudas acknowledged the rally by painting on their backs “My Right!” “Equality” and “Freedom.”
TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSThe protesters proclaimed their support for the bare-chested Times Square women, asserting that women have equal right to men to walk around shirtless.
The protesters marched from Columbus Circle to Bryant Park.
Jennifer Deseo, 45, said the painted ladies were victims of a double standard, given that officials have never complained about the famed Naked Cowboy constantly strumming his guitar in his underwear in Times Square.
“I have no problem with the Naked Cowboy posing shirtless and in a Speedo. But I don’t see why the mayor wants to tear up Times Square because these women are doing the same thing,” said Deseo, a freelance writer from Queens.
Similar events in recognition of the annual worldwide GoTopless Day were planned in about 60 cities.
The marchers carried signs that read "Women's breasts are family friendly" and balloons shaped like breasts.
Jen, 27, of Philadelphia said more boobs — not less — would result in men better behaving themselves.
"I understand why they are (taking photos), but I don't like it. It's a novelty for them," Jen said. "If I stand here talking to you topless for a few hours, you would not even notice my breasts anymore."
Michael Armstrong said he was there in support of his topless female friends.
"I want us to be equals. I don't want them to be slut-shamed just because they are topless. I don't want them to be harassed," he said.
Last week, de Blasio shocked pedestrian safety advocates by suggesting he might tear up the pedestrian plaza in Times Square and again let cars dominate the area as a way to rid the area of the topless women and other panhandlers.
The crossroads of the world has recently seen a surge in painted ladies. Sometimes as many as 40 of the topless women are working the area.
De Blasio has said the topless women and aggressive panhandling at Times Square is “is wrong, it’s just wrong.”
Gov. Cuomo said the PG-13 scene there reminds him of the “bad old days”when violent crime and vice ran rampant.
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Sorry, "ladies," but you have no legal right to be topless in Times Square, so stop asserting that you do. Also, if you want to be taken seriously, stop doing things that only cause you to be objectified, and then cry about it when you don't get the result you want. Men and women ARE different, and there are things each sex can do and should do, that the other cannot and should not. Many women seem to want a double standard to work in their favor only. Oh, and it really does seem that the bulk of these "ladies" who are demanding to walk around topless are basically not what anyone (male or female) would want to see topless anyway. Just because I can go shirtless in certain places doesn't mean that I feel that I should or that I do. Have some pride, piggies.
Feminism: the only thing that can make female nudity offend me.
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