From the viral #MeToo hashtag online to the streets of Vancouver, more than a hundred gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery Saturday to shed light on issues of sexual harassment and assault.

The MeToo rally, organized by March on Vancouver, was hosted in unity with other events happening throughout North America, including in Los Angeles and Toronto. On Oct. 30, thousands took to the streets of France for rallies looking to raise awareness and end sexual violence.

鈥淢any of us gathered here today are the survivors,鈥� Judi Lewison of Black Voices Vancouver told the Vancouver crowd. 鈥淥urs is the heartbreaking tapestry of sexual harassment and other violations far too horrific to politely recall.鈥�

Saturday鈥檚 rally brought the growing online movement to the steps of the art gallery, as local activists and sexual assault survivors shared their stories.

鈥淲e are one, gathered here to say: me too,鈥� Lewison said, adding that harassment and assault is not just a Hollywood issue, and one that does not discriminate.

The rallies stem from the recent #MeToo hashtag campaign started by actress Alyssa Milano in the wake up sexual harassment and assault allegations to Harvey Weinstein.

Milano asked social media users to write 鈥渕e too鈥� on Twitter and Facebook if they鈥檝e been sexually harassed or assaulted to 鈥済ive people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.鈥�

If you鈥檝e been sexually harassed or assaulted write 鈥榤e too鈥� as a reply to this tweet.

鈥� Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano)

One day after Milano made the suggestion on Twitter, Facebook said in a statement that 45 per cent of Americans had friends that posted 鈥渕e too.鈥�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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