A community is fighting back against a recent string of unsolved sexual assault cases.

More than 400 people have confirmed their attendance on Facebook at a march Monday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. that will begin at Christie Pits Park and proceed through the neighbourhood.

Co-organizer Liz Brockest said she was feeling increasingly angry as she read report after report of violence against women. The recent wave of sexual assaults in the Bloor St. W. and Christie St. area — four more women came forward last week saying they had been assaulted from behind late in the evening — was the tipping point.

“I just felt like action needed to be taken,” said Brockest, 29, a resident in the area who teaches at George Brown College, where she is also a support worker with the Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor/Advocate Program.

“I feel angry. I feel like my friends, the people I care about, deserve to feel safe, anywhere and anytime.”

The most recent incidents bring the total number of reported cases that follow the same pattern to 10 in the last two months.

The assaults began in the Spadina Ave. and College St. area. Toronto police’s sex crimes unit say they believe the attacks are being committed by the same man, described as black, about six feet tall and with a stocky build.

The unit has labelled the investigation its top priority, and has rerouted uniformed and plain-clothes officers to the neighbourhood.

“We are still going through some tips that the public has provided, and we would also like for anyone who may have information to come forward,” said Det. Const. Phillip Campbell on Sunday. “What we’re telling people right now is to be aware of their surroundings. If you see anything that doesn’t seem right, call 911 and do whatever you need to do to protect yourself.”

Monday’s march also coincides with a sudden influx of residents in the Annex, as students, mainly from the University of Toronto, move back to the neighbourhood for the start of the school year.

The homepage of the university’s campus community police provides links to recent Toronto police press releases related to the sexual assaults.

Over the weekend, as residents soaked up the sun at Christie Pits and the surrounding streets, they said they still felt safe in the neighbourhood, although some are taking precautions when out at night.

“What happened was a shock, because normally this is a pretty safe area. That’s one of the reasons I moved here,” said Kaitlyn Matheson, 22, a recent Ryerson University graduate. “Before I wasn’t really taking precautions, but now when I go running at night I go with my roommate.”

Photographer Diana Renelli said it’s important for anyone who is out at night to remain alert.

“I think it is a good idea to bring more officers in the area, because it’s important for women to feel safe at anytime at night,” said Renelli, 46.

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Brockest said she’s hoping Monday’s rally will educate people on the violence that is happening in the city and what can be done to stop it. She said she has already received emails of support from the offices of city councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam and Mike Layton.

“I want people to feel that they have the skill to resist violence, and build alternative resources to be safe,” she said.