Neighbors and supporters of a Palo Alto University professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault gathered outside her home Thursday to "drown out the hate" she has received since coming forward with her story.
As the chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee awaits Christine Blasey Ford's response to the invitation to testify before his panel Monday, dozens chanted "FBI Investigation" and held signs that read "Thank you, Dr. Ford" outside her Palo Alto home in support.
"We want to drown out the hate mail she's getting and the trolls online. We want her to know we hear her. We believe her. Her story is our story," said activist and organizer Christen Podulka.
Ford has reportedly relocated after she went public with her story Sunday, telling The Washington Post that Kavanaugh had forced himself on her in a bedroom at a party when he was 17 and she was 15, attempting to remove her clothes and clapping his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.
[[493871451, C]]
Her lawyers said she has been the target of "vicious harassment and even death threats."
Women advocacy group @UltraViolet is flying a banner that reads "Thank you Christine. We have your back" over Palo Alto in support of professor Christine Blasey Ford who accused #SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. https://t.co/HrcTLPhxIz pic.twitter.com/9Ty9SyTNql
— Kiki Intarasuwan (@kintarasu) September 20, 2018
#breaking Supporters form line of support for #BrettKavanaugh accuser #ChristineBlaseyFord at her home in #PaloAlto. pic.twitter.com/5mfxaI53wR
— Robert Handa (@RHandaNBC) September 20, 2018
Neighbors and supporters of #ChristineBlaseyFord show support at her #PaloAlto home for sexual assault accusation against #BrettKavanaugh. Organizer tells @nbcbayarea their message. pic.twitter.com/GDKjC1wlQg
— Robert Handa (@RHandaNBC) September 20, 2018
"I wish we had learned from Anita Hill 20 years ago, yet here we are," Podulka said. She said the way Ford's accusation is being handle is the reason why many victims of sexual violence don't come forward.
In addition to supporters outside her home, a national women advocacy group Ultra Violet funded a plane to fly a banner that reads "Thank you Christine. We have your back" over the city of Palo Alto.
Local
NBC Bay Area on Thursday spoke to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, the first person Ford reached out to about her allegations in July.
"I told her I believed her. It was more than apparent to me that this was a very difficult story for her to tell," Eshoo said.
As Eshoo talked about Ford, she received news that Ford's lawyer said that Ford wishes to testify, provided that there's an agreement on terms that are "fair." After indicating earlier this week that she would appear before lawmakers, Ford wants other witnesses — not just Ford and Kavanaugh — to participate and wants the FBI to reopen its background check of Kavanaugh. Those demands have been backed by Democrats but dismissed by top Republicans.
Kavanaugh, currently a judge on the powerful District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, has denied the charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
