Thursday’s testimony of Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford before the Senate Judiciary Committee had many glued to their radios, TVs and phones. For some, today was an empowering moment for sexual assault survivors.
Nearly 70 women and men turned out to support Dr. Ford. They dressed in black, held signs, and several wrote “I believe Christine” on their palms.
The group gathered at Santa Cruz’s Town Clock. That’s about an hour’s drive from where Dr. Ford teaches at Palo Alto University. She has accused Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when they were teenagers.
The rally took place right after Dr. Ford’s testimony and before Judge Brett Kavanaugh's testimony.
Political activist, author and feminist Bettina Aptheker spoke at the event. She’s a professor at University of California, Santa Cruz.
“I think she was beautiful. I was moved to tears by her because she's so frightened. That's courage. Courage is when you're really frightened and you do it anyway,” Aptheker said.
Women’s March Santa Cruz County organized Thursday’s lunchtime rally. Organizers say sister groups from across the country held similar ones. Women’s March Monterey Bay held their rally on Wednesday night.
Santa Cruz rally attendee J.B. Brown hopes more women feel safe to share their stories now.
“I hope at the end of today that more women across this country and across the world feel like there is an opportunity now to talk about their experiences and to report their experiences,” Brown said.
Thursday’s rally concluded with a message to get out and vote in the midterm elections.