After a string of sexual assaults in the Bloor and Christie streets area of the Annex, it appears the community is fighting back.

Hundreds of residents gathered at the Christie Pits Park at 7 p.m., Monday.

Trinity-Spadina councillor Mike Layton and MPP Rosario Marchese were among those in attendance.

Layton called the attacks concerning and said that the people need to know that this neighbourhood is safe.

After the speeches the group marched through the Annex chanting “stop rape now” and “take back the street.”

The rally was organized on Facebook by several concerned members of the community.

For more information on the rally you can visit the Facebook page here.

Police say at least eight victims have been sexually assaulted between Aug. 16 and Aug. 28.

The attacks have been similar, the suspect description has been similar that each individual person has provided, and the area that it’s all happened has been similar,” said Const. Campbell.

“We have all kinds of police resources still actively investigating this, including uniform, including investigators, including plainclothes officers,” he added, who said police presence in the area will be ramped up in order to catch the increasingly nervy attacker.

The suspect is described as a black male, 25-to-40-years-old, 6’0″ tall with short black hair and wearing black clothing.

The victims reportedly range in age from 16 to 27.