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Since the news broke last week of an alleged gang rape in Pitt Meadows, thousands of people have banded together on-line in a show of support for the young victim.

As of this afternoon (September 21), a Facebook page titled “Support for 16yr old victim in Pitt Meadows” has been endorsed by over 10,000 people, many of whom have shared sentiments like, “You’re in our thoughts. Be well, and be strong.”

But not everyone is ready to accept that what happened the night of September 10 was rape.

A Facebook group called “Reasonable Doubt in Pitt Meadows” claims to be “for the people who have yet to jump on the bandwagon headed out to lynch the men/boys involved in the alleged sexual assault of a 16yr old from Pitt Meadows”.

It had more than 130 members, as of this afternoon.

Kayla Smith, one of the creators of the “Reasonable Doubt” group, told the Straight by phone that she’s concerned about the treatment of the males linked to the incident.

“No one thinks how it’s going to affect his life and how he feels,” Smith said of the 18-year-old man arrested by police in connection with the case.

A 16-year-old boy, who allegedly photographed the incident and posted the pictures on Facebook, was also arrested and released.

Police have been steadfast in their statements that the sex in the incident wasn’t consensual.

But Smith, a 22-year-old Maple Ridge resident who is friends with the arrested 18-year-old, said that she isn’t buying it.

“In my opinion, she wasn’t raped,” Smith said.

Daisy Kler, a spokesperson for Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, told the Straight that she isn’t surprised that blame is being put on the young rape victim.

“Unfortunately, it’s her character and behaviour that is being scrutinized,” she said by phone. “What that does is let men off the hook in the discussion of them being responsible for violence against women and, in this case, rape.”

According to Kler, nobody is saying due process shouldn’t occur in this case.

However, she said that more discussion needs to happen about what consent sounds and looks like.

“No woman who has been drinking is able to give consent,” Kler said. “That’s it. The whole discussion of whether or not she willfully took the GHB is completely moot. It doesn’t matter.”