
Activists paraded shirtless through the streets of New York City on Saturday, flashing their chests to celebrate the 10th annual Go Topless Day Parade.

Walking to the beat of drums in a carnival-style atmosphere, dozens of men and women embarked on the one-mile march from Columbus Circle to Bryant Park for the event, which this year falls on Women's Equality Day.

The annual event was established in 2007 by Nevada-based organization GoTopless, which promotes gender equality.

Participants of all shapes and sizes held up placards proclaiming: 'Equal Topless Rights For All' and 'War Is Obscene Not My Nipples, Meditate 4 Peace Topless'.

Elle Wesseling from Sydney, Australia (pictured), participates in the 10th annual Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday

Dozens of men and women embarked on the one-mile march from Columbus Circle to Bryant Park for the event (Pictured, two women go shirtless for the 10th annual Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday)

Participants wrote 'Go Topless' on their chests (pictured) or held up placards proclaiming: 'Equal Topless Rights For All' and 'War Is Obscene Not My Nipples, Meditate 4 Peace Topless'

Similar events held in cities across the US support the right of women to go topless in public on gender-equality grounds (Pictured, a woman walks topless during the Go Topless Day Parade)

'It's important to send a message. These are our bodies. They should not be policed any other way than men's. Men walk around like this all the time, so why is it such a big deal?' one woman said (Pictured, people participate in New York City's Go Topless Day Parade on Saturday)

Several US cities marked the day with participants tweeting using the hashtag #FreetheNipple (Pictured, a bare-chested woman attends the Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday)

'I wouldn't miss this for the world,' said Rebecca Barwick, 35, who traveled to New York from Virginia and works in the federal government.

'It's important to send a message. These are our bodies. They should not be policed any other way than men's. Men walk around like this all the time, so why is it such a big deal?'

Many wrote 'Go Topless' across their chests and wore headbands with breasts popping up from the scalp on springs. One woman wore a blue Wonder Woman cape, and a couple of men wore bras.

An SUV topped with giant inflatable pink breasts demanding 'Equal Topless Rights' was also featured.

Two participants tape the word 'Censored' over their breasts as they march in New York City's Go Topless Day Parade on Saturday

The annual event was established in 2007 by Nevada-based organizationa GoTopless (Pictured, a bare-chested woman attends the Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday)

An SUV topped with giant inflatable pink breasts demanding 'Equal Topless Rights' was also featured in the parade (pictured)

A cancer survivor takes part in a march to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday

In New York, it has been legal since 1992 for women to bare their breasts in public (Pictured, left and right, women bare their chests to participate in the Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday)

While the majority of the US is top-free for women, there are still three states where it is illegal: Utah, Tennessee, and Indiana (Pictured, a woman shouts into a megaphone during the Go Topless Day Parade in New York City on Saturday)

Hundreds of spectators filled the streets for the unique event as marchers shouted chants for women's breasts to no longer be censored.

In New York, it has been legal since 1992 for women to bare their breasts in public. While the majority of the US is top-free for women, there are still three states where it is illegal: Utah, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Even with a top-free law is firmly in effect, there have been cases of women being arrested on the grounds of 'disorderly conduct'.

Participants and onlookers gather for Go Topless Day celebrating its 10th anniversary in Venice Beach, California

Even with a top-free law is firmly in effect, there have been cases of women being arrested on the grounds of 'disorderly conduct' (Pictured, women pose for pictures during the Go Topless Day Parade in Venice Beach, California)

This year the event falls on the 97th anniversary of Women's Equality Day, which celebrates when American women were given the right to vote (Pictured, women march in the Go Topless parade in Venice Beach, California)

Several US cities marked the day with participants tweeting using the hashtag #FreetheNipple.

The international effort also included events where participants were protesting for similar rights in 29 other US cities, including Venice Beach, California; Denver, Colorado, and Phoenix, Arizona. GoTopless Day events were also celebrates outside America, including in Montreal, Canada, and Paris, France.

This year the event falls on the 97th anniversary of Women's Equality Day, which celebrates when American women were given the right to vote.