Key facts
- Hundreds protested outside the New York State Supreme Court against sexual violence.
- A Cornell University student sued fraternity members, her sorority, a bar, and the university over an alleged gang rape in October 2024.
- The student alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted while incapacitated.
- The lawsuit criticized Cornell for its investigation and disciplinary process.
- Prosecutors reopened a criminal investigation, and the state's attorney general was appointed special prosecutor.
- Former Justice Department lawyer Sally Yates is leading an independent review of Cornell's handling of the allegations.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Thursday, October 8, 2026, to protest against sexual violence. The demonstration, organized under the social media banner "#StopSexualViolence: From the Frat House to the White House," drew a crowd of several hundred people, many of whom were women.
The rally was prompted by a civil lawsuit filed last month by a Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity chapter in October 2024. The lawsuit also names the fraternity, her own sorority, a local bar, and Cornell University, accusing the institution of failing to adequately investigate and punish students involved.
Doe, who was 20 at the time of the alleged assault, specifically criticized the university for offering some accused perpetrators the option to write essays to mitigate their penalties. She had reported the incident to the police several weeks after it occurred, leading to an internal university investigation and a law enforcement probe. However, the local prosecutor initially declined to bring criminal charges.
Since the civil suit was filed, prosecutors have reopened the criminal investigation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the state's attorney general as a special prosecutor for the case. Additionally, Cornell University has engaged Sally Yates, a former top US Justice Department lawyer, to lead an independent review of how the university handled the allegations.
Cornell University has defended its initial response, stating it shut down the Chi Phi chapter and imposed discipline, including expulsions, on some members found to be involved. The male defendants named in the suit have denied any wrongdoing, with some claiming the sexual activity was consensual and others disputing their participation.
The lawsuit has sparked a national outcry against sexual violence on college campuses, with "I Am Jane Doe" protests occurring in multiple cities. Some activists have pointed to comments made by President Donald Trump regarding his behavior toward women and a jury verdict finding him liable for sexual abuse as contributing factors to a "culture of rape" in the U.S. Thousands of students and faculty had also marched on the Cornell campus demanding firmer action against sexual violence.