On Friday, September 5, 1969, a crowd estimated at 1,500 – mostly men – gathered on the Marina City plaza to watch 14 women drop their bras into a basket. It was part of a “Braless Friday” demonstration by a local radio station.

It does not sound like any of the women actually took off their bras. They came to the demonstration with bras in hand or in their purse, or in two cases the bras were tossed from a balcony above.

(Left) Chicago Tribune staff photographer Walter Neals captured the crowd gathered in front of the east residential tower.