( CNN ) -- What began as an online protest over the controversial case of an alleged rape of a then-14-year-old girl became a street demonstration Tuesday night as hundreds of protesters gathered in a small Missouri town demanding `` Justice for Daisy . '' It was the first physical protest since the case launched a social media fervor driven by online activist group Anonymous . A few relatives of the alleged victim cried as people gathered , telling CNN they were glad to see some people in Maryville , a town of 12,000 residents , finally supporting the girl . Daisy Coleman says a teenage boy raped her in 2012 when she was 14 . Coleman 's mother , Melinda , says that after her daughter 's alleged assault , her children received threats . Melinda Coleman was also fired from her job as a veterinarian at a clinic . The Colemans have since moved from the town in northwest Missouri , about 100 miles north of Kansas City . In April , their house in Maryville -- which had been vacant and for sale -- burned . Some of the protesters who came to the rally on Tuesday were out-of-towners who were so moved by the case they drove several hours to attend . They said they were hopeful that the rally would inspire a wider conversation about rape and rape victims . Melinda Coleman , who was not at the rally , said she was heartened to hear so many people had gathered in support of her daughter . She held back tears of her own as she told CNN 's `` Erin Burnett OutFront '' : `` I think it 's a wonderful sentiment and I 'm really touched ... and happy . '' She said she is ecstatic the case has been reopened after a special prosecutor was appointed Monday . `` I think that just the fact that we 're being heard and we 're getting a chance at justice is huge . All we 've ever wanted was to have some justice , '' she said , adding that she has yet to meet with the new prosecutor . In an interview with Erin Burnett last week , Daisy Coleman described leaving her house during a sleepover and going with a boy who was later charged with sexual assault . The charges against Matthew Barnett , 17 at the time of the incident , were subsequently dropped . A lawyer for Barnett said last week that his client cooperated with authorities and admitted he had sex with Daisy . `` While many find Matt Barnett 's behavior reprehensible , the legal issue was whether a crime was committed , '' Robert Sundell said in the statement . Daisy Coleman 's friend , Paige -- who says she was raped by a different boy that same night -- had her case settled in juvenile court . CNN does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual assault but has done so in this case because Paige , Daisy and her mother have chosen to go public . CNN has agreed to identify Paige by just her first name . On Monday , a new special prosecutor promised to review the case `` without fear and without favor . '' `` I know that this case has raised a variety of concerns in northwest Missouri , so please know this : This case will be thoroughly reviewed , '' Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said . A judge appointed Baker as special prosecutor days after a different prosecutor , who dropped charges , said he 'd request the move . The initial prosecutor , Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert L. Rice , has said he dropped a sexual assault charge against the boy because the girl and her relatives refused to cooperate . `` There was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt , '' he said in a statement . A charge against the boy 's friend who was accused of recording part of the incident on an iPhone was also discontinued . But the case got new life this month after The Kansas City Star featured it and CNN interviewed Daisy and her mother . Why Anonymous wants justice in Missouri rape case .
Hundreds gathered in small rural town in support of victim who says she was raped . People left town after the alleged rape , saying they were harrassed . Special prosecutor was appointed after different families dropped charges . The alleged victim says she was raped when she was young .