Thousands rally in Australia as sexual misconduct claims cloud government
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Protesters attend the Womens March 4 Justice Rally on Monday in Australia's capital, Canberra. Photo: Jamila Toderas/Getty Images
Thousands of protesters rallied across Australia on Monday against the sexual abuse and harassment of women — driven by allegations centered on Australia's Parliament, per the Guardian.
Why it matters: Many are angry at Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government, after Attorney General Christian Porter was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl when he was a teenager in 1988, Reuters notes.
- The 43 protests planned across the country are likely to heap more pressure on Morrison — who has refused to consider an investigation into Porter, after police closed theirs citing a lack of information. Porter has denied the allegation and said he will not step down.
Morrison's Defense Minister Linda Reynolds is facing calls to resign for failing to report that a government staffer came to her with another allegation of rape against an unnamed colleague.
- Reynolds and Porter are both on sick leave, per Reuters.
- The two developments have spurred a reckoning and national conversation on the sexual misconduct of Australia's most powerful politicians.
For the record: Mass gatherings are able to take place in Australia as it has largely contained COVID-19 cases to quarantine hotels, where travelers newly arrived in the country stay before entering the wider community.
- There were no community infections reported in Australia Monday, despite a Sydney quarantine hotel security guard testing positive for the virus Saturday — ending the city's 55-day run of zero local cases.
In photos: Thousands rally for justice for women
Editor's note: This article has been updated with details from the protests and more photos.
