Heavy afternoon rains failed to put a damper on the burning desire for more to be done to combat gender-based violence, as scores of women and their male allies turned out for the #StandWithWomenJA protest on Thursday (April 1).

The call-to-action, held at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre, is the first in a series of coalescing demonstrations in the wake of 20-year-old Khanice Jackson’s tragic kidnapping and death.

Protesters, who wore black and bore signs against a pervasive culture of harassment and assault, also took over Twitter with the stand-in becoming the number one trending topic on the social media platform.

The protest got approval from the Jamaica Constabulary Force to be held from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm—just enough time to remind toxic masculinity that no means no.

“Together we can be agents for a change in how women are treated in our society,” the @stand_ja page advocated.

One of the protestors, speaking with the media, decried the less-than-human way women are treated in Jamaica.

“Men do not own women. Women don’t owe them anything. Stop it. Please, mi a beg unno stop it. Stop killing us, we have done nothing to you. Nothing warrants death, nothing warrants sexual abuse, nothing warrants physical abuse; stop it. Wi tyad! We’re very tired. Please stop,” she advocated.

Scores of Twitter users showered the women with positive messages, encouraging more to keep the sustained effort going as they reel under the oppressive hand of inaction and indifference.

Here’s a roundup of some timeline activity:

1: The stand begins!

2: Come rain or shine, RIGHTS wi seh

3: No apology. Enough

4: Just. NO.

5: Mandem also out for a cause

Stand With Women JA, the group behind the protest, said it has also submitted a manifesto to the Andrew Holness-led administration listing a slate of recommendations to address gender-based violence across the island.

Among the suggestions, the group wants: GPS trackers installed on public passenger vehicles, making the Sexual Offenders’ registry public with names and faces of those convicted; revising the Sexual Offences Act to allow for harsher penalties; as well as strict disciplinary action against police officers who turn vitims seeking help away.