The Take Back the Night rally to fight for women's rights on sexual assault starts parading around downtown Ottawa.
Host Michelle Lemiex says Take Back the Night is about taking over streets to promote safety for women and to spread awareness to prevent women from being victims to sexual assault. "This has to stop," says Lemiex.
Lemiex says the Ottawa community needs to stand up to violence against women such as rape.
"We have the right to be safe," says Lemiex. "We will not be silent. Not tonight, not any night. We have to take back the night."
Lemiex says all lives matter, but not all lives are equally at risk. Lemiex says this doesn't give anyone the right to sexually assault anyone in any circumstances.
More people gathered the crowd and began chanting, "shame!" in response to support victims of sexual violence and assault.
The Carleton Ravens women rugby team and several police are escorting the crowd around downtown.
The crowd is chanting, "women's body, women's rights. We will not be terrorized!" The traffic is a little congested.
The crowd is passing by Rideau Centre shopping mall and into the Lowertown area. The estimated time to reach the city hall is 8pm.
