A landmark sexual harassment case against prominent TV host Zhu Jun was brought to court in Beijing on Wednesday, attracting over a hundred to show up in solidarity with the victim.

The plaintiff, known by her pseudonym Xian Zi, is suing Zhu Jun for harassing her when she worked as an intern for China’s state broadcaster CCTV in 2014.

Over a hundred gathered outside the court in a show of support for her. They held up slogans including “#metoo” and “we stand by Xian Zi.”

With tears in her eyes, Xian Zi urged her supporters to “keep up the fight” in defending the rights of sexual harassment victims. “We may not win this legal battle at the end, but as long as people become more aware of sexual harassment victims like me, we should see it as a sort of victory.”

Both Xian Zi and Zhu Jun requested an open trial but were rejected by the court.

Xian Zi reported to the police the next day after she was sexually harassed, but officers refused to start a case. It was not until in 2018 when she exposed the incident online after being inspired by the #MeToo movement that the authorities began to pay attention.

Zhu denied the accusation.

Two reporters, from Reuters and AFP respectively, were brought to a police station while they were working outside the court. Police said they did so to “confirm their identity.”

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