Protests Erupt Nationwide in Support of Jane Doe, Cornell Sexual Assault Case

On October 8, approximately 250 protesters gathered at the Washington Monument on the National Mall, as part of a National Day of Action to support a woman known as Jane Doe. Jane Doe alleges that seven Cornell University men, known as the Cornell 7, gang-raped her and advertised the incident in a fraternity Snapchat group. The protest in Washington was one of over a dozen demonstrations held across the country, organized in response to the university's handling of the case.

Two years ago, Jane Doe reported the incident to Cornell University. The university expelled two of the accused men and required the others to write essays as punishment. In response to the university's actions, Jane Doe's lawyer filed a lawsuit two years after the initial incident.

Speakers at the Washington, DC, rally included Dani Bensky, a vocal Jeffrey Epstein survivor and victims' advocate, Alva Johnson, a 2016 campaign staffer who publicly accused Trump of sexual assault, and Claire Barnett, a JD candidate and president of Advocates Against Sexual Violence at Georgetown Law. Protestors held signs with messages such as “History Has Its Eyes on Us” and “Give Me Back My Girlhood, I Had It First.”

Similar protests were held in other locations, including a rally on Foley Square in Manhattan. The demonstrations were organized by the Women's March and aimed to raise awareness and demand accountability for sexual assault survivors.

CONTEXT: The Cornell 7 case has sparked a national conversation about how universities handle sexual assault allegations and the need for stronger legislation to hold abusers accountable. The protests highlight the ongoing struggle for justice and support for survivors of sexual assault.