Protesters: 'The female body is not a spectacle'

After the Charleston mayor accused them of planning a “naked spectacle” and asked them to reschedule, a group of women planning a topless protest for Saturday in Charleston responded that they are “not ashamed of {their} natural form.”

Organizers of the “Free the Nip Top Freedom Rally” say they are marching “for topless equality and the normalization of the female body.” They have said they want to defy the expectation that women must wear shirts and bras, lest other people become aroused or offended. Participants plan to show their support in different ways — by going topless and/or braless, using body paint or participating fully clothed.

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones on Wednesday asked the women to hold the protest on a different day, accusing them of planning “a naked spectacle” and “seeking to parade naked in front of young children.” Several FestivALL children’s events are planned for Saturday.

Organizers had originally planned to march down Capitol Street at 5 p.m. on Saturday and end at Haddad Riverfront Park. They had already agreed to march on Summers Street or Court Street, instead, to accommodate the city.

Read more: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20170621/protesters-the-female-body-is-not-a-spectacle-