The organizer of next weekend’s Go Topless rally walked downtown with two topless women Friday afternoon, Aug. 17. Jeff Johnson, of Huntsville, Alabama, appeared on the street with women who identified themselves only by their first names, Lacey and Carrie.
The trio drew both cheers and jeers from passersby and frequently brought street traffic to a halt.
Johnson said the women were exercising their constitutional rights, pointing out that even though toplessness is not mentioned in America’s highest law, there are guarantees for equal protection for both sexes.
“There is no constitutional right to walk topless unless the men do too. Women and men should be able to be treated the exact same way, no matter what,” said Johnson. “Asheville is one of the few enlightened cities that does it this way.” He added, “The civil rights are there to protect you even if people don’t like what you do. That’s what civil rights are all about.”
Johnson said he has already filed permits for the larger upcoming rally, planned for August 26. A similar rally was held downtown last year.
Asked if he was connected with the Raelians, a religious group that believes in divine extraterrestrial beings and was rumored to have organized last year’s Go Topless rally, Johnson said no.
“However, everything that the Raelians do, I’m for,” he said. “I’m not a Raelian, I don’t believe like they do, but I believe in everything they believe in. They believe in equality for women.”
Johnson said he was aware of counter-protests being planned in response to his rally. Local conservative firebrand and former Asheville City Council member Carl Mumpower is among the opposition.
“That’s his civil right,” said Johnson, “and we’re civil-rights advocates, so I’m all for him protesting.”
Thank goodness we have this to gawk at & talk about. Otherwise we’d have to talk about the fact that Tim Moffitt is apparently planning to erase the City of Asheville from the map.
I am willing to bet it was an empty threat. I doubt seriously he would have that kind of political capital and, even if he did, the consequences of failing at something like that would be devastating.
You should be more concerned he doesn’t return next year with a version of Michigan’s Emergency Manager law.
I don’t find these two gawk-worthy. Sorry ladies, but an ever-so-quick glimpse was all I could handle.
Lordy, that gal has a dead psychodelic skunk on her head.
Max, you may have won some dollars from the brain trust of Mumpower/Nesbitt!
As late as 1960 a guy could get a ticket for being shirtless in central park; the women are just catching up. Society will go on.
Why isn’t Jeff Johnson topless as well?
Not even a NSFW tag?
Although it is not getting nearly enough press as this event, there is an event that respects the sanctity of the reasons behind Women’s Equality Day. That Seminar and Rally will take place on the same day at Pritchard Park. It starts at 10:00 and goes to 2:30. Speakers from ERA-NC Citizens Task Force, The Wage Project, Asheville Buncombe Institute for Parity Achievement, and other experts are scheduled to discuss issues such as Fair Pay, Violence Against Women, why getting the ERA ratified is important, and other topics.
For more information go to http://www.3wf-ashevillewomenforequality.com
Please understand that an event such as the topless rally only mocks women’s attempts for true equality and demeans women because the real reason behind the topless event is NOT to get equality, but to allow men to oogle women’s breasts, and to stir up outrage and controversu/
womens rights.. yeah right.. why not ask why domestic violence isn’t aggressively prosecuted, why not ask what happened to 16 rape kits that had no names out of Medfords old troubles? Why not ask why this tourist town is the worse so called liberal town on womens rights… I think the idiocy of these owmen is legion.. we have so many perverts in this damn town. all you bare breasted ones did was encourage the creeps.. Go do some real advocacy for women.. we did the naked thing in the seventies and it didn’t change a damn thing
These ladies look LOVELY. Thanks girls for daring. I’d walk with you anytime ;)