March for women against rape

More than 800 people participated Saturday in the fourth annual Walk Against Rape. The event, sponsored by San Francisco Women Against Rape, raised more than $55,000 for the 35-year-old sexual assault crisis center in the city's Mission District.

Erica Guajardo Johnson, an organizer with San Francisco Women Against Rape, said she was approached by a man during the march who broke into tears while telling her that he was raped many years ago. Seeing everyone marching together gave him the courage to ask for help, Johnson said.

"I just wanted to squeeze him," Johnson said. "That's exactly what this is about ... to give someone the power to admit to themselves and to the world that it's not your fault."

The group began the march at 11 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza and ended at Dolores Park, where they converged to watch performances by local artists and meet with various advocacy groups.

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