Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out

Evelyn Quinteros did a very brave thing this afternoon: she tied her hair up.

For years, her abusive husband had hit her with a car chain, dragged her by her hair and thrown her down the stairs, sending her on multiple trips to the hospital, some visits that she doesn’t even remember. 

“I never tied my hair up because it would be easier for him to pull,” Quinteros said.

“But today, I did it. I tied my hair up,” she happily smiled with a swish of her ponytail.

She had escaped this abusive relationship after multiple suicidal attempts and a long line of unhealthy relationships with her male family members as well. She had lost her virginity at the age of four after her father’s best friend raped her.

And today, she was able to regale her long, but ultimately successful, journey out of abuse.

But Quinteros is in the minority of abuse victims. Most don’t live to tell their stories of triumph, or are currently battling the abuse at home. San Mateo County has lost 20 men, women and children to domestic violence in the past 10 years, according to Supervisor Rose Jacobs-Gibson.

The second annual Day of Remembrance held at the downtown Redwood City library today honored those who are no longer with us with a bell chiming as each name was read.

Read on Redwood City Patch.