Tens of thousands of protesters gathered at city halls and college campuses across the United States on Thursday to demand an end to sexual violence. These nationwide rallies followed weeks of public outcry regarding the handling of campus sexual assault cases at Cornell University and Louisiana State University.
Organisers, including Women’s March, Feminist Generation, and Me Too International, called for justice for Jane Doe, who reported being drugged and gang-raped by seven students at a Cornell frat party, and Kendall Francis, who reported being raped by an LSU football player. They also demanded justice for all survivors harmed and sought reform of Title IX, which provides protections for sexual misconduct victims and LGBTQ+ students.
The recent cases have sparked outrage among college students and their families concerning the prevalence of rape culture. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 81% of women and 43% of men in the US have reported experiencing sexual harassment or assault.