Tens of thousands of women gathered outside Australia's parliament and across the country on Monday, calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault. 

The March 4 Justice rallies were spurred by a recent wave of allegations of sexual abuse, discrimination and misconduct in some of Australia's highest political offices. 

Women wore black to signal "strength and mourning" and chanted "We will not be silenced." Protesters in Melbourne carried a meters-long white banner bearing the names of women killed in Australia from gendered violence since 2008, while those outside Parliament House in Canberra prepared to deliver two petitions demanding change. 

While leaders of the major opposition political parties came out to join the crowds in Canberra, a delegation of organizers rejected an invitation to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in private. 

"We've come to his front garden," said Janine Hendry, one of the organizers. "We are 200 meters from his office and it's not appropriate for us to meet behind closed doors especially when we are talking about sexual assault which does happen behind closed doors."  

Recently reported scandals include a rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has strongly denied the alleged 1988 assault. Porter lodged defamation proceedings in Australia's Federal Court on Monday against the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) over a news article on the alleged rape. The ABC did not immediately respond to the legal action. 

A former senior political adviser for Morrison's Liberal Party has also been accused by several women of rape or sexual assault. The man has not been named, nor commented publicly on the allegations. 

The public anger over the government's handling of the alleged incidents mirrors the sentiment on display at protests in London over the weekend following the killing of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home at nighttime.