THUNDER BAY, Ont. - A Thunder Bay man who endured a vicious beating by a group of unknown assailants a week ago says he feels safe again after an outpouring of support at a rally Friday night.
About 1,200 people showed up at a local park to show their support for Jake Raynard.
He says he was assaulted along with two friends outside a local bar last weekend.
It is believed the attack targeted Raynard and his friends because they`re gay.
The police investigation into the attack continues.
Raynard, 30, who was born in Thunder Bay but grew up in Toronto, says he found the show of support and "overwhelming."
"My worst fear was that no one would show up," said Jake after the event wrapped up, laughing despite black eyes, facial swelling, and an arm in a sling.
During the attack, Raynard managed to help his friends escape into a cab but was then beaten, allegedly with a brick.
Raynard 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.
A Facebook group started in support of Jake and has 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, Raynard called the turnout "way beyond expectation."
"I have no idea how to respond to it," he said.
After the rally, Raynard 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.
