PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Students, survivors and community members gathered across the Philadelphia region Thursday for a nationwide day of action calling for greater accountability and transparency in how sexual violence allegations are handled.
Demonstrators gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall in support of a Cornell University student identified publicly as Jane Doe, who says she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in 2024.
The rally drew college students, including Temple University students, as well as people who said they were survivors of sexual assault themselves. Demonstrators held signs and wrote messages in chalk on the ground to show their support for survivors.
Organizers said the demonstration was intended to show solidarity with Jane Doe while pushing colleges and other institutions to improve their responses to sexual violence allegations.
Jane Doe’s attorney says she has been receiving threats. Plus, the lawyer for one of the accused shares his side of the story.
The case has raised questions about how universities handle reports of sexual assault and has become a focus of demonstrations calling for greater accountability and transparency.
Similar rallies took place elsewhere in the region Thursday.
In Doylestown, Bucks County and the Network of Victim Assistance, known as NOVA, hosted a community rally against sexual violence at the Bucks County Administration Building.
The event brought together county leaders, law enforcement officials, victim advocates, community partners and residents. Featured speakers included Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan, Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia and NOVA Executive Director Penny Ettinger.
Organizers said the rally was intended to support survivors and encourage action against sexual violence.
At the University of Delaware in Newark, students held a walkout and rally outside Old College Hall as part of the nationwide day of action.
Organizers cited the cases involving Jane Doe at Cornell and Kendall Francis at Louisiana State University as reasons for the demonstration. They called for increased resources for survivors, stronger sexual violence prevention measures and greater consistency and transparency in how reports are handled at universities and the national level.
The Philadelphia rally was scheduled to continue through 8 p.m. Thursday, with organizers planning a march through the streets following the speaking portion of the event.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.