A small group of Whidbey Island residents joined a national walkout Monday afternoon in support of two women who’ve accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

About 11 people held signs at intersection of State Highway 20 and Main Street in Coupeville, both in protest of Kavanaugh’s nomination and support for women who have accused him.

“I can’t stand the idea of a sexual predator making decisions about women’s bodies and women’s lives,” said Dawna Nolan, a co-leader of Indivisible Whidbey, the group that organized the event.

Participants acknowledged that Kavanaugh, who is accused of attempting to rape a woman in high school and exposing himself to another woman in college, has not been convicted of any crime.

The point, they said, is to take accusations seriously and support the women who choose to come forward.

“Due process is not sweeping these women’s allegations under the rug in the name of political expediency,” said Lori Taylor, one of the organizers.

For Nolan, the issue is personal. She said she was raped twice while serving in the Army in 1986, and she doesn’t think the culture around sexual assault has improved much since that time.

Nolan said she takes issue with people expressing concern over Kavanaugh’s life being ruined by allegations, when she thinks the focus should be on his accuser Christine Blasey Ford’s life and how it was impacted by the alleged 1982 incident.

Twenty years after she was treated for post-traumatic stress disorder related to her assault, Nolan said her own symptoms returned.

“I haven’t slept for a week, it’s a triggering thing,” she said of the national discussions about Kavanaugh’s alleged behavior.

Five men attended Monday’s protest. Organizers stressed the importance of both men and women speaking about proper behavior and supporting survivors of assault.

“We need everybody,” Nolan said. “We need men to be visible and speaking about these issues.”

Reactions to the group gathered at the corner Monday varied between smiles and waves to less-positive hand gestures. The event’s organizers said any potential negative reactions to their demonstration were worth it, especially because it would be minimal compared to backlash against Kavanaugh’s accusers.

“These women are heroes for coming forward,” Taylor said.

“They have nothing to gain and tons to lose.”

Marran Gray, wearing the cloak and headdress from the series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” stands in a protest against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court. The TV show depicts a patriarchal society that treats women as property of the state. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News-Times

The group Indivisible Whidbey participated in a national walkout in protest of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to supreme court and in support of women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News-Times