Kitchener sisters hold rally for women's topless rights
A rally organized by three sisters who say they were stopped by a police officer for cycling topless a week ago drew hundreds of people in Waterloo, Ont., today, according to posts on social media.
The "Bare With Us" rally at Waterloo Town Square aimed to educate people — and police — about women's right to be topless in public.
"It was very, very amazing. It was really well-attended and the people who came where very supportive," Alysha Mohamed, a Juno-nominated singer who goes by the stage name Alysha Brilla, told CBC News. At least 300 people showed up, she said.
Women and men turned up to the event, many baring their torsos and waving signs. Waterloo Regional Police were on hand for the rally, which they called a "respectful, peaceful and safe demonstration."
Brilla and her sisters, Tameera and Nadia Mohamed, said they were not wearing shirts while cycling in neighbouring Kitchener, Ont., on July 24 when a male officer drove up beside them and told them to cover up because it is the law.
Brilla said she told the officer he was wrong. She said 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.
Women in Ontario have had the right to go topless in public since 1996, when the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of Gwen Jacobs, a university student who went topless on a hot summer day in Guelph in 1991. The court found there was "nothing degrading or dehumanizing" about her decision to take off her shirt in public.
Jacobs also made an appearance at Saturday's rally, which the sisters hope to turn ito an annual event.
Brilla said she was amazed by all the attention the issue has received since she and her sisters first spoke out.
"I had no idea how polarizing the issue would be. I thought people wouldn't be so disturbed by the female breast," she said. "We just want to advocate and let people know that they do have this right."
A rally organized by three sisters who say they were stopped by a police officer for cycling topless a week ago drew hundreds of people in Waterloo, Ont., today, according to posts on social media.
The "Bare With Us" rally at Waterloo Town Square aimed to educate people — and police — about women's right to be topless in public.
"It was very, very amazing. It was really well-attended and the people who came where very supportive," Alysha Mohamed, a Juno-nominated singer who goes by the stage name Alysha Brilla, told CBC News. At least 300 people showed up, she said.
Women and men turned up to the event, many baring their torsos and waving signs. Waterloo Regional Police were on hand for the rally, which they called a "respectful, peaceful and safe demonstration."
Brilla and her sisters, Tameera and Nadia Mohamed, said they were not wearing shirts while cycling in neighbouring Kitchener, Ont., on July 24 when a male officer drove up beside them and told them to cover up because it is the law.
Brilla said she told the officer he was wrong. She said 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.
Women in Ontario have had the right to go topless in public since 1996, when the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of Gwen Jacobs, a university student who went topless on a hot summer day in Guelph in 1991. The court found there was "nothing degrading or dehumanizing" about her decision to take off her shirt in public.
Jacobs also made an appearance at Saturday's rally, which the sisters hope to turn ito an annual event.
Brilla said she was amazed by all the attention the issue has received since she and her sisters first spoke out.
"I had no idea how polarizing the issue would be. I thought people wouldn't be so disturbed by the female breast," she said. "We just want to advocate and let people know that they do have this right."
Old people with bodies like Ric Flair in a fukking rush
