A judge’s decision to acquit a taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting an intoxicated women who passed out in the back of his cab is sparking protest across the province.
A rally has been organized for 3:00pm tomorrow at Grand Parade Square in Halifax.
Organizer Amanda Dodsworth says this is a terrible precedent to set, especially for women with cases waiting to go to trial.
“I can’t imagine how those women must be feeling right now. Waiting for their cases to go forward, knowing that this guy was acquitted and what a dangerous precedent this judge’s decision set.”
She’s concerned about the message this decision sends to women.
“His claim that when she passed out is important is crazy. It’s not important when she passed out. She was already far past the point where she would be able to give consent before she even got in his taxi.”
— ProtestJudgeLenehan (@ProtestLenehan) March 5, 2017
After rallying at Grand Parade, the crowd will march on the Spring Garden Road courthouse.
Once there, Dodsworth will submit a petition and letters calling for an appeal to be filed and for the judge to be investigated.
She wants to keep pressure on the Crown Attorney to file the appeal before the 30 day window expires on March 31.
PLEASE READ.
— ProtestJudgeLenehan (@ProtestLenehan) March 5, 2017
