Appearing bare-breasted has been legal in New York since 1992. But Mayor Bill de Blasio and police Commissioner Bill Bratton say the body-painted women in the square who take photos with tourists are a nuisance.
The mayor even suggested doing away with the pedestrian plaza at the "Crossroads of the World" to control both the topless women trolling for tips and the costumed cartoon characters, some of whom were arrested last year for accosting non-tipping pedestrians.
Sunday's parade was among dozens of such events in about 60 cities celebrating the worldwide GoTopless Day.
New York GoTopless spokeswoman Rachel Jessee said the goal is for gender equality when it comes to baring one's chest. Two Dutch tourists relaxing on the park grass said they didn't understand all the fuss.
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His friend, Leonie van der Maden, agreed. "It's ridiculous, really! I'm perfectly OK with it. But why do you need to march, if it's already legal?"
Marchers had various motives for participating.
"We are doing it because it's liberating, it's free, it's something different. Why not?" said Claudia Simondi, 46, a native of Argentina working as a bartender in the U.S.
Spencer Jones, 27, a Manhattan artist who's been sketching nude models since she was 12, and later became a model herself, said being topless "never really bothered me."
Theresa Crudo, 22, even brought along her 15-month-old son.
She came bare-chested with her husband's approval.
But Sandy Belzer, 61, was not convinced.
He said he's "seen it all" as a former bartender at New York's famed Copacabana club.
"But this is just a disgrace, what this city has come to," he concluded.