BERKELEY (KRON) – In the hopes of raising awareness about a sexual predator who has been targeting women wearing skirts near the University of California Berkeley campus, student groups held a rally on campus Wednesday afternoon.
Organizer Christie Santos says the event, called “Skirt Rally,” encouraged both men and women participants to show solidarity with the victims by wearing skirts and took place around 12:30 p.m. on campus at the Upper Sproul Plaza.
Santos says they are hoping to “break the silence” about the predator.
According to police, the predator has attacked 20 women near campus since September. In every case, the man has walked up behind college-aged women wearing skirts, and attempted to touch them inappropriately.
KRON 4’s Darya Folsom spoke to Officer Andrew Frankel who says their concern right now is that some victims have been waiting before reporting the incidents, “In some instances it’s been a day, in some instances months before we know about the actual attacks. So when these events do occur we are encouraging the public to contact us immediately. Please don’t wait, the sooner we know about it, the higher likelihood we’ll catch the guy.”
Witnesses have described the person as a white man in his 20’s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160 to 170 pounds with a medium build and dark, wavy hair.
The event is being organized by the local branches of women’s groups V-Day and National Organization of women. Santos says more than 300 users of the online networking site, Facebook, have pledged to take part in the rally.
Officials with the city and university campus police department say they've increased patrols in the area.
Witnesses to any of the assaults are asked to call the Berkeley Police Department’s sex crimes detail at 510-981-5735.
Police are also encouraging victims to report attacks immediately to Berkeley police dispatch at 510-981-5900, or from a cell phone at 510-981-5911.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
(Copyright 2009, KRON 4, All rights reserved.)