Forty cities rallied Tuesday to support Tory Bowen’s right to use the word rape in court.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2005 graduate Tory Bowen’s sexual assault trial gained national attention when Judge Jeffre Cheuvront of Lancaster County District Court barred words including “rape”, “sexual assault” and “sexual assault nurse” from the trial.

The latest trial to decide the case was dismissed, prompting the rally.

“Two, four, six, eight, no more violence, no more hate,” an assembly chanted Tuesday in front of the Douglas County Court House.

Seven people held signs that read, “Seeking justice is not a crime,” “Rape, not sex, is the crime” and “Victims have the right to be heard” for a Bowen-inspired victims’ rights rally sponsored by Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, also known as PAVE.

Oct. 31, 2004, Bowen was allegedly raped by Pamir Safi. Her first two trials did not clear the case: The first concluded with a hung jury, the second was declared a mistrial.

The latest trial, scheduled for Feb. 19, was dismissed because Cheuvront banned too much evidence.

“It is really difficult to prove rape when you are not allowed to say it,” Bowen said.