Chicago ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ 2020 hit Red Line Sunday - Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ 2020 hit Red Line Sunday - Chicago Sun-Times
Apopka police: Man pulls down woman's pants, tries to film it - WESH 2 Orlando
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Demands Ralph Lauren Remove Greek Letters From Its Pants - Black Enterprise

Posted: 10 Jan 2020 05:56 PM PST

Don't be alarmed if you see people riding the "L" without any pants on Sunday.

They're participating — one hopes — in Chicago's 15th-annual No Pants Subway Ride, an event that started in New York City in 2002 and spread to cities around the world.

This year, Chicago's No Pants Subway Ride will start at the Loyola station on the Red Line. Participants plan to meet at noon at 1209 W. Arthur Ave. wearing "everything you would normally wear on a 25-degree day, including pants," according to the event's Facebook page.

Attendees will then walk to the Red Line, be assigned to groups and get off at different stops, where they will take off their pants and get back on a train.

The event is purely for fun — "a celebration of silliness." In fact, riders are asked not to attach any political message, charitable cause or sponsorship to their participation.

"It's the shock feeling about it," said Steven Preston, one of the organizers for Chicago's event. "Even if you go with people you know, the whole idea is not to patronize those people."

Preston said participants want to look as if what they're doing is completely normal. For example, many people will read books or wear part of their work attire.

The shock value is part of why No Pants Subway Ride is always held in the winter.

"The colder it is, the more people who turn out — just because it's crazy," Preston said.

A subway passenger, left, looks on at participants in the 9th annual — Participants in Mexico City's "No Pants Subway Ride" in 2010.

Apopka police: Man pulls down woman's pants, tries to film it - WESH 2 Orlando

Posted: 10 Jan 2020 01:44 PM PST

Authorities have a arrested a man who they said attacked a woman, pulled down her pants and tried to film her.Citizens in Apopka flagged down police officers after restraining a man they say attacked a 63-year-old woman in broad daylight. The victim was inside the garden section of a Dollar Tree on South Orange Blossom Trail when she was attacked by 23-year-old Andrew Jon-Paul Edwards, police said. The woman told police Edwards came up behind her and yanked down her pants. When she turned around, it appeared as if he was trying to film her to include her exposed buttocks with his cellular phone, a report said. The victim then screamed for someone to get Edwards.An on-duty manager went after Edwards as he was leaving the store. A customer grabbed him, along with other citizens, until Apopka police arrived and handcuffed him, authorities said. On Wednesday, Apopka police began investigating a similar incident at the Walmart on Orange Blossom Trail. Officials said upskirt photos of women were taken at the store and their pants were pulled down, as well. Edwards is currently on probation in Orange County for video voyeurism for a June 2019 incident at the Walmart on John Young Parkway. Police said Edwards has had a long arrest history over the past two years that includes filming women at Publix, assault and shoplifting.Edwards faces charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person, battery and disorderly conduct.

APOPKA, Fla. —

Authorities have a arrested a man who they said attacked a woman, pulled down her pants and tried to film her.

Citizens in Apopka flagged down police officers after restraining a man they say attacked a 63-year-old woman in broad daylight.

The victim was inside the garden section of a Dollar Tree on South Orange Blossom Trail when she was attacked by 23-year-old Andrew Jon-Paul Edwards, police said.

The woman told police Edwards came up behind her and yanked down her pants. When she turned around, it appeared as if he was trying to film her to include her exposed buttocks with his cellular phone, a report said.

The victim then screamed for someone to get Edwards.

An on-duty manager went after Edwards as he was leaving the store. A customer grabbed him, along with other citizens, until Apopka police arrived and handcuffed him, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Apopka police began investigating a similar incident at the Walmart on Orange Blossom Trail. Officials said upskirt photos of women were taken at the store and their pants were pulled down, as well.

Edwards is currently on probation in Orange County for video voyeurism for a June 2019 incident at the Walmart on John Young Parkway. Police said Edwards has had a long arrest history over the past two years that includes filming women at Publix, assault and shoplifting.

Edwards faces charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person, battery and disorderly conduct.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Demands Ralph Lauren Remove Greek Letters From Its Pants - Black Enterprise

Posted: 09 Jan 2020 07:41 AM PST

A black fraternity is furious at designer Ralph Lauren for using its Greek letters on a pair of chinos, according to Blavity.

On the Ralph Lauren French website, the clothing line is selling a pair of chino pants with the Greek letters Phi Beta Sigma on them. The symbols for the black fraternity are located on the back of the pants in red and black. It was listed at a price of $335.77.

A petition had been started against the fashion designer on Change.org demanding that they stop selling the jeans.

"Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. DOES NOT belong on your jeans!!"

"We are a week away from 106th anniversary of the founding of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and what is plastered all over social media? An ad for Polo Ralph Lauren Chino Graphique Droit with the letters that represent Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Greek letters on the back crease of said pants! Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., an illustrious organization stared & shared in utter disbelief!"

"One member said 'this is copyright infringement at its finest, they have no permission using my letters to sell their pants.' Did we mention, these pants are selling for 299.99€? If Polo is using these beloved letters so freely, where are the royalties going? To whom did they ask & get permission to use these letters, and why did they feel so comfortable doing this?"

"We are demanding that Ralph Lauren do the right thing and RECALL, DESTROY, & PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE for trying to capitalize off of black culture! We don't know WHO thought that this was a good idea; but they need to fix it quick! Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.is a professional organization that [is] not for sale!"

After the outrage from Phi Beta Sigma became public, a Ralph Lauren spokesperson reached out to Watch The Yard and gave a statement:

"The use of these symbols on our products was an oversight for which we deeply apologize. We are immediately taking action to remove the product from our sales channels. While we have a rigorous review process in place for all of our designs, this has prompted us to take another review of our protocols to help ensure that this does not happen again.

As an American brand with more than 50 years of heritage, Ralph Lauren is inspired by many facets of American culture. As part of this, we are firmly committed to respectful and appropriate use of all cultural icons and insignias."

They have since removed the chinos from all sales channels and they have reached out to the fraternity.