Kavanaugh hearing prompting more sex assault survivors to step forward

The demonstrations, called "Believe the Women," included sex assault survivors who are sharing their personal stories and saying they believe the Senate testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a high school party more than 30 years ago.

Demonstrators said sexual violence occurs all too often, and much of it goes unreported, but experts said Ford and the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing may be encouraging more sexual assault survivors to come forward.

"We do see an increase in the number of crisis line calls we receive," said Lauren Schwartz, of InterAct of Wake County, which provides services for domestic violence and sex assault victims. "Specifically speaking on a year-to-year comparison, we have had a 19 percent in increase in crisis line calls."

InterAct received at least five calls from sexual assault survivors in one day alone, and all of them mentioned the Kavanaugh hearings.

"It is the survivor's right to choose exactly when and how they want to share their story," Schwartz said.

Laura Combs said she knows what it is like to live with abuse in her past.

"Abusers are weak people, but as a child, it is still a scary situation," Combs said, adding that when she tried to report what happened, she was shrugged off.

She said she believes Ford's public stand will lead others to step forward and confront their abusers as well.

"I think we are going to see a period in time when people have had enough of staying silent," she said. "So there will be many more people coming forward."