Following the lenient sentencing of Brock Turner, the former Stanford swimmer who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, Sunday's graduation ceremony at the elite university was home to a number of quiet demonstrations against rape culture.
Some students and activists rallied together to hold a protest before Sunday's 10 a.m. ceremony.
Organizers said the goal was not to disrupt the commencement, but to use it as a public stage to decry the treatment of sexual assaults on college campuses around the country.
On Saturday, a student named Brianne Huntsman shared photos on Twitter of the signs she planned to hold. Written in black and red letters, the signs read "Teach Your Son Not to Rape," "Brock Turner is Not An Exception" and "Justice for Survivors, Not Leniency for Rapists."
Currently at @Stanford graduation. Seen at the stadium. "Protect survivors, not rapists" #Stanford pic.twitter.com/Ul1lVMl6r1
— Jenny (@JennyFu3) June 12, 2016
UltraViolet, a women's advocacy organization, seemingly spared no expense for the protest.
The group has hired a plane to fly over Stanford Stadium until 15 minutes before the ceremony starts with a banner reading "Protect Survivors. Not Rapists."
The organization also took out a full page ad in the student newspaper that urges faculty and students to sign a petition to oust Santa Clara County Federal Judge Aaron Persky, who handed down the controversial 6-month jail sentence to Turner.
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Bicycle billboards decrying rape culture were outside the stadium from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
