On Oct. 6 Arellano was taking part in the annual Life Chain silent protest at Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue, just as she had done for the past four years, when she was assaulted by a knife-wielding attacker. The man seemed to take issue with Life Chain, where pro-lifers hold a curbside silent vigil, displaying signs with pro-life messages.
“Yeah I was a victim of violence but it didn’t seem to dampen my spirits,” said Arellano, a Toronto-based social justice advocate. “There is a greater cause that would still encourage me to go back to the line, to the protest, to the mass action. I still believe that we need to lend a voice to the voiceless.”
Though Arellano was injured, she acknowledges things could have been much worse considering the man wielded a knife. In addition to a few minor cuts and bruises, which have since healed, she was treated at Sunnybrook Hospital for a concussion which continues to nag her a month later.
“I’ve tried to go back to normalcy but there are days when it comes back,” she said. “It is still fresh but I try not to let it get in the way of my everyday living.”
Arellano’s alleged attacker is due in court on Nov. 15 and she hopes justice is served that day. He is facing both assault and assault with weapon charges.
“I would hope that he goes to jail until such time that he is fit to go back to society,” she said. “We can’t just let people who are violent, who hurt people, roam free on the streets.”
The assault occurred as the hour-long event was winding down. Arellano recalls the man reading the pro-life signs before he began to verbally harass her. It soon escalated.
“I was just looking at him and before I knew it he doused me with water and then threw the water bottle in my face,” she said. “I was really surprised at the fast development of that event and before I knew it he grabbed me by the hair, knocked me to the ground and started punching me.”
He then brandished a knife. Overcome with fear, Arellano was able to get away from her assailant and took refuge behind Josh Gauran, a member of the Knights of Columbus. Gauran protected her as she pleaded for someone to call the police.
Gauran was also taking part in the Life Chain.
“Someone may say I did a foolish thing at the risk of my own life,” wrote Gauran in an e-mail to Arellano following the incident. “I would say that it was just a random act of kindness that every individual possessed. It so happened I was right there that very moment, so I had to act.”
For his assistance Gauran earned a few minor cuts and bruises but, considering the severity of the situation, said he escape relatively unharmed.
Despite the attack, Arellano said she has no fears of participating in next year’s Life Chain because she knows God will be watching over her again.