E.M. supporters gather outside court
For the first time in this trial, about a dozen people stood outside court, holding signs in support of E.M., the complainant.
The supporters showed up at around 8:15 a.m. ET (the courthouse opens at 8:30, the accused and lawyers usually show up just after 9, proceedings set to begin at 10), and held signs reading “Believe Survivors,” “Break the silence, stop the violence” and “Elbows up, E.M.”
Among those outside the courthouse was Canadian activist Judy Rebick, who spoke to the media about the importance of consent laws in Canadian justice.
She told me she feels deeply for E.M., who will testify later against the five accused. Rebick also said she feels for the accused men, because the justice system is such an adversarial process.
