Thousands gathered Place Émilie-Gamelin Wednesday night to show solidarity for sexual assault victims.
A group called ‘Stop Rape Culture‘ organized the rally.
“One in three women are sexually assaulted and as far as we’re concerned, those numbers are too high,” said Sue Montgomery, spokesperson for Stop Rape Culture.
Speakers asked for more support for victims and called upon authorities to take action.
“Police have to take women seriously when they make a complaint about sexual assault,” said Montgomery. “We need sex education is schools starting from a very young. We need our legal system to become overhauled when it comes to trials because very few sexual assaults end in a conviction.”
The rally comes after two Laval University students were arrested in connection to multiple sexual assaults and break-ins at a campus residence last week.
READ MORE: 12 new charges laid in alleged break-ins and sex assaults at Laval University
Soon after, Alice Paquet came forward with allegations she had been sexually assaulted by Liberal MNA Gerry Sklavounos.
Following the allegations, Sklavounos resigned from Liberal caucus.
READ MORE: Alice Paquet pens letter about alleged sexual assault
“We are their mothers, their sisters, their daughters,” said Marie-Hélène Méthé, a protester at the event. “So stop. It’s a grim world for all the women in their lives.”