“We gathered up a bunch of like-minded people who want to show Helena that your body is not anything to be ashamed of,” Rose said. “Breasts are not sexual organs, they’re not genitals, they’re not there to do anything except feed a newborn child.”

Some picnickers pointed out that in many places, women are still prevented or discouraged from even doing that much.

“I was told to ‘cover up’ while breastfeeding last year, and you get glares all the time,” Eury said. “I don’t breastfeed anymore, partly because I was just tired of being put down for not covering up.

“I know it’s a small thing, but (the picnic) could help to make the world a safer place for women if we can help normalize women’s bodies. ... It could help make things better for our daughters.”

Nearly a dozen male and female attendees first gathered at the park around 11 a.m. and said they planned to disperse within an hour or two.

A statement released by Helena police Friday afternoon confirmed that after speaking with the City Attorney's Office, “officers will not be responding to complaints about the women being topless. The protesters are expressing their 1st Amendment Rights and (are) not violating any laws.”

Contact James DeHaven at james.dehaven@helenair.com or 406-594-0067. Find him on Twitter: @JamesDeHaven. ​

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