Bare With Us Rally supporters gathered at the Waterloo Town Square in Waterloo, Ont., 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 Bare With Us rally to help raise awareness about women's rights.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hannah Yoon
August 01, 2015 - 9:00 PM
WATERLOO, Ont. - A rally and march organized by three sisters who were stopped by a police officer for biking topless a week ago was held Saturday in Waterloo, Ont.
Dozens of topless women — and men — attended the trio's "Bare With Us" rally at Waterloo Town Square, meant to educate the public about women's right to be topless if they so choose.
Local media reports say people were waving placards, banners and sporting body paint with messages including "everyone has the right to NOT be harassed" and "Bare With Us! They're just boobs!"
Juno-nominated musician Alysha Brilla says she and her sisters were not wearing shirts while cycling in 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 says told the officer he was wrong, adding 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 eight-year-old Marlee McLean was told by city staff in Guelph, Ont., to cover up while she was in a wading pool wearing only a swim bottom.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2015