The push to remove San Diego Mayor Bob Filner from office after over a dozen women have come out and accused Filner of inappropriate advances hit high gear on Sunday when an effort to have the embattled mayor recalled kicked off, according to NBC News.
A "Freedom from Filner" rally was held at San Diego's Civic Center Plaza on Sunday. After a series of short speeches from the rally's organizers the group marched down the street trying to convince Filner to step down from office, according to NBC News.
"Are you ready to take back our city?" an organizer asked the crowd. "Bob Filner, the citizens of San Diego have a message for you: It's time to resign. You have brought disgrace upon our city."
Also calling for Filner to step down was the attorney representing some of the women accusing Filner, Gloria Allred.
"City Hall is not your personal sexual playground," Allred told the crowd, according to NBC News. "It is a seat of power and responsibility, and you have abused that power. The people of San Diego will have their voices heard. There is no excuse for abuse - and no excuse for you to stay in power."
After two weeks of what was described as "intense therapy" Filner had promised to be at work on Monday but there was no sign of him at City Hall, according to the Associated Press.
Supporters of a recall need to collect 102,000 valid signatures by Sept. 26. Politico reports that they have over 800 people actively trying to collect those signatures.
Volunteers were collecting signatures at the finish line of American's Finest City Half-Marathon on Sunday morning, according to NBC News.
"I just think it's a matter of principle," Brent Edwards told NBC News after finishing the race. "Someone shouldn't just be allowed to essentially intimidate and treat women, or any person really, the way the mayor has. I just think it's despicable that someone in this position of power can use and abuse that power to intimidate women."
Steve Erie, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego, told the Associated Press that it is going to be quite a feat if Filner's political career survives the scandal.
"He is a ferocious campaigner, but this will be the most difficult campaign of his life," Erie said. "The allegations are like Chinese water torture, the way they keep coming out. It's like drip, drip, drip. At this point, I'm waiting for the first woman who has been around Bob to say 'he didn't manhandle me.'"
