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About 1,200 people of all ages showed up at Waverley Park to support Jake Raynard, who says he was assaulted along with two friends outside a local bar early Saturday morning, and make a stand against violence in Thunder Bay. It is believed the attack targeted Jake and his friends because they‘re gay. Police investigation into the attack continues. “My worst fear was that no one would show up,” said Jake, laughing despite black eyes, facial swelling, and an arm in a sling, after the event wrapped up at about 8:15 p.m. He didn‘t have much to worry about. A Facebook group started in support of Jake – who took the worst beating out of the three of them, enduring 15 fractures to his cheekbone, a broken jaw and eye socket, a broken upper palate and spent several days in a hospital where he underwent facial reconstruction surgery – ballooned to thousands of members in a matter of days. They joined from all over the world, and hundreds said they‘d attend Friday night‘s rally on its event page. Organizer Juan Anderson said he‘s fielded calls from media as far afield as Australia. Still, Jake called the turnout “way beyond expectation” and “overwhelming.” “I have no idea how to respond to it,” Jake said. “Except with love,” his sister Jackii said with a grin. “Except with love, and a lot of thanks, yeah,” Jake said. Jackii said the turnout was so high because people recognized that Jake was standing up to violence in the community. “Everybody, somewhere in their family, has been a victim of violence somewhere down the line . . . and they were too scared to come out,” she said. “And all of a sudden, there‘s Jake saying ’no, you know what? You have the support of the community.‘” Jake agreed, pointing out that people are sometimes ashamed when they‘re victims of violent crime. “We can‘t have an open dialogue about these kind of things and try to really heal and recover from them without talking about them,” he said. Jake delivered a similar message to the crowd shortly after the rally began. “I would encourage anyone else who has been a victim of a violent crime like this, or any other violent crime for that matter, to come forward and make their story known,” Jake said in a speech. “It‘s through dialogue that we‘ll be able to overcome . . . and grow towards a stronger and safer community.” After his speech, Jake led a march through the downtown core, helping carry a large banner reading Unity in our Community. The group passed Pier 61 – the bar outside of which the assault began – and walked up Cumberland Street, returning to the park via Red River Road. At one point, on the corner of Camelot and Cumberland streets, a pair of supporters used a bullhorn to lead the crowd in chants of “unity in our community,” and “hey hey, ho ho, homophobia‘s got to go.” Vehicle horns honked in support, and bystanders applauded. A group of people emerged from On Deck, cheering as the group passed. “I think the gay bashing days are over in Thunder Bay,” one member of that group said, watching the line of supporters which stretched up Camelot Street clear to Algoma Street. After the march ended, the crowd was addressed by several speakers, including Jackii, who tearfully recalled hearing of the assault on her brother, and thanked everyone for the support Jake‘s received. Jake‘s long-time best friend Joshua Dowbak said the night was “perfect.” “I‘m really proud of our community for coming out and supporting this,” he said. “I hope we as a community can eradicate hate.” One of the two friends who was with Jake the night of the assault, a 30-year-old man who didn‘t want his name used, said earlier Friday that the outpouring of support is “amazing.” “Jake deserves all the support he‘s going to get,” the friend said Friday during a break at a local bar, where he‘s a waiter. His Friday night shift meant he couldn‘t attend the rally. Earlier, the friend said his memory of the events is hazy as he took some knocks to the head – he still has the remnants of a deep cut above his right eye, and said he also had several nasty bruises – but recalled how he, Jake and another friend were outside the bar at about 3 a.m. Saturday when the altercation started. A bystander – not part of Jake‘s group – was also outside of the bar when Jake and his friends were confronted by a man asking for a cigarette. The man became aggressive, and the bystander called a cab. Jake and his friends attempted to leave the scene, although Jake has stated he believes the attackers were waiting for them. The fight itself broke out a short distance from the bar on Cumberland in the middle of the road near the hydro building, the friend said, and involved a large group of attackers. Afterwards, the friend recalled, “I started walking back toward the Pier, and then the next thing I remember is the cab pulling up behind or beside us,” he said. The bystander was in the cab. He ushered Jake‘s two friends inside, and they left, believing Jake had escaped on foot. “He said he didn‘t see Jake at this time, or obviously he would‘ve thrown him in the taxi, too,” the friend said of the bystander. “We had assumed (Jake had) ran off, or we never would‘ve left. We would‘ve phoned the police, obviously.” The friend said they didn‘t know what happened to Jake until the next day, which was told to them by a mutual friend. Jake has said the last thing he recalls is grabbing a brick to defend himself. Later, he recalls banging on the window of a nearby fast-food restaurant for help, and then he woke up in the hospital. The friend said Jake was the only one of the three who was admitted to hospital. Police say four people were admitted to hospital in connection with the incident, however. Friday, police wouldn‘t comment on who the other three people are, saying the investigation is ongoing. “A lot of people are really rushing to give it a hate crime label,” the friend said. “I personally do feel that it was a gay issue, but at the same time I think people should relax on the police a little bit, because it‘s a very sticky situation. It‘s good for them to take their time.” After the rally, Jake said he was going to advocate for a number of initiatives in the city, including an increased police presence as city bars close down so people will be safer as they return home. “But first, Jake‘s going to be home resting, taking care of himself,” Jackii said at the rally while Jake laughed. “We‘re going to make some great smoothies for the next little while. And then after Jake himself heals, he can spread the rest of the healing to the world.” In the meantime, a fund to support Jake has been set up. Donations can be made at the Bay Credit Union on Algoma Street. Top of Page |
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September 2, 2010, 8:22 am |