If mere presence could speak, the gathering at this afternoon's silent protest march of the Ralph Klassen trial could have made for a novel. More than 300 men, women and youths crowded into the foyer of the Andrew Philipsen Law Centre.

It seemed that weather was working against them. But despite temperatures of -38 C and a thick ice fog covering the city, the support for victim Susan Klassen and many others like her proved potent.

The 36-year-old woman was strangled in November 1995 by her husband, Ralph. His murder trial resulted in last week's conviction of manslaughter, with the judge handing down a five-year sentence.

The public reaction has been one of dismay and disgust. At noon today, a long string of citizens began to walk from the law centre to the Yukon Government Administration Building. Among the crowd, there were those who had known the victim. But, there were also those who had not.

Dianne Sutherland did work with the victim, and was present during some of the court proceedings. She said today, while crossing the avenue's intersection with Main Street, that the silence of the march is a most effective way to get the message across that violence is wrong.

"I certainly don't want to see anymore violence than what has already happened," she said. She spoke of a letter that will be put on the Internet, so the case can fuel the national effort to change the criminal justice system. The letter will likely be written by a lawyer, she noted.

"I know this sort of thing happens all over the country," said Sutherland.

Tom Amson said his reason for coming out this afternoon was to protest the sentence given to the offender. He walked near the front of the line, accompanied by his dog. He believes that there should be a heavier punishment for taking another person's life. He was particularly concerned that the offender will be eligible for parole in 20 months.

"I understand there were some extenuating circumstances, but there's got to be some message sent out loud and clear - that a human life is worth a lifetime."

Trailing behind in the line of marchers was a mother with her child. The duo was wearing aprons, with the hand-written words "end in justice" and "make us safe".

Within minutes, the group had reached the government building and filed into the lobby. Here, Louise Profeit-LeBlanc gave an opening prayer "to the soul of our gentle friend, Susan." This was followed by some words from Anne Tayler, a friend of the victim's. She urged the listeners to continue with their effort to improve the justice system.

"In many cultures, there are parables that bad things happen when good people stand by and do nothing. I can tell today, from this crowd, that it's not going to stop here."

The image of the protest will be captured in the newspaper, she said. That photograph will remain in the public's mind for only one day. "It's going to take a lot more for those images to, one day, change the system," she said. She asked the citizens to write or speak out against violence toward women.

I have a firm belief that silence is consent," she said. "If you don't speak out, everyone will assume that it's OK ...."