Walkouts staged to support victims of sexual assault were held across the country Monday.

A group of New Jersey Senate Democrats walked out of the State House in Trenton to show their solidarity with sexual assault survivors in general and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accusers in particular.

Christine Blasey Ford says that Kavanaugh held her down and tried to rip her clothes off at a party when they were teenagers. Deborah Ramirez says Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a college party.

The nominee has denied the allegations and calls them “smears” meant to prevent him from being confirmed to the Court.

Opponents of Kavanaugh, particularly Democrats, have been working to stop the judge’s confirmation because they believe he is too conservative.

“We will not be silenced and he will not be on the Supreme Court,” Sen. Nia Gill said during the walkout.

The walkout was meant to bring attention to sexual assault survivors who often say that their stories are not believed or taken seriously when they report their abuse.

Sexual abuse prevention advocates say that when high-profile sexual assault cases are in the news, calls to sexual violence hotlines rise.

“We saw it with Brock Turner, we saw it with Bill Cosby. I'm quite sure we're going to see it here,” says New Jersey Coalition of Sexual Assault executive director Patricia Teffenhart.

The hotline connects survivors and their loved ones to counseling or guidance on issues like restraining orders.

Teffenhart says that it is still common for sexual assaults to go unreported.

“It’s an incredibly challenging time for us. We literally have to shift an entire culture to be affirming for survivors in order for them to feel comfortable coming forward in a more timely manner, and quite honestly, we just have not created that environment yet,” she says.

The sexual violence hotline number is 1-800-601-7200.