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World

Topless protest in Canada urges women to 'bare with us' after police stop shirtless women

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    "Bare With Us" demonstrators gather at the Waterloo Town Square in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. Alysha Brilla and her two sisters, Tameera Mohamed and Nadia Mohamed, who were recently cycling topless when a police officer told them to cover up, organized the rally to help raise awareness about women's rights. Ontario women have had the right to go topless in public since 1996. (Hannah Yoon/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    Katie Gosen holds up a sign at the "Bare With Us" rally at the Waterloo Town Square in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. Alysha Brilla and her two sisters, Tameera Mohamed and Nadia Mohamed, who were recently cycling topless when a police officer told them to cover up, organized the rally to help raise awareness about women's rights. Ontario women have had the right to go topless in public since 1996. (Hannah Yoon/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

WATERLOO, Ontario – Dozens of topless women — and men — attended a "Bare With Us" rally Saturday meant to educate the public about women's right to go shirtless if they choose.

The rally and march were organized by three sisters who were stopped by a police officer for biking topless a week ago.

Local media reports said people were waving banners and wearing body paint with messages including "everyone has the right to NOT be harassed" and "Bare With Us! They're just boobs!"

Musician Alysha Brilla said she and her sisters were not wearing shirts while cycling in Kitchener, Ontario, on July 24 when a male police officer drove up beside them and told them to cover up because it is the law.

Brilla said told the officer he was wrong and that when she started filming the interaction on her cellphone, the officer said he had only wanted to check if the women had proper bells and lights on their bicycles.

Ontario women have had the right to go topless in public since 1996.

A similar incident in June garnered headlines after an 8-year-old was told by city staff in Guelph, Ontario, to cover up while she was in a wading pool wearing only a swim bottom.