wtf?
OK, I'm usually quiet, mainly because I'm back at scool and things are insanely crazy already, but
TransJustice is a Project of The Audre Lorde Project, a LGBTST People of Color Center for
Community Organizing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2006 Media Contact: Imani Henry (646) 342 9673
MCDONALDS MANAGER ASSAULTS TRANSGENDER WOMAN OF COLOR WITH LEAD PIPE; NYPD REFUSES TO ACCEPT HER
COMPLAINT
NYC TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CALLS PROTEST AT MIDTOWN SOUTH PCT. FRIDAY, SEPT. 8th 5PM
On July 10th, 2006 at 10pm, a transgender woman ate with her friends at the McDonald's at 341 5th
Ave. After eating, she tried to use the bathroom. The men's bathroom was out of order and all
evening men and women were using the women's bathroom. She asked the person behind the counter
which bathroom she should use and was told to use the women's bathroom. The victim is diabetic
and entered the bathroom to give herself an insulin injection. While she was in the bathroom, she
heard someone banging on the door yelling that they were going to “kill her.” She waited a moment
and then opened the door. An employee in a blue McDonald's shirt began beating her with a
lead pipe and telling her he was going to “kill her.” He used anti-gay and homophobic language.
He hit her on her arms and in the groin area with the pipe while the rest of the McDonald’s staff
cheered and chanted, “kill the faggot."
The victim’s friend called the police. When they arrived they refused to let her speak and
arrested her for assault. During this time, the victim discovered that the man with the pipe was
a manager. They left her bag at McDonald's and it contained all her medication, which she must
take four times a day.
After the victim was released from jail, she attempted to file a complaint against the Manager at
McDonalds on six separate occasions; July 18th, July 21st, July 23rd, July 26th, August 3rd, and
August 7th. On each of these occasions, her request was denied and she encountered harassment,
extremely long wait periods, and was threatened with arrest for “filing a false report.”
The determined victim went to the precinct alone, with legal advocates, and with friends. Each
time her request was denied. In addition, her attorney, Pooja Gehi, has demanded that the
arresting officer allow her to file a complaint. She supplied photographic evidence of the
victim’s injuries as well as eyewitness testimony from people who were at the incident. This too,
was denied. The officer informed Ms. Gehi that the “case was closed.” The Victim filed a
Complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) about the police. But this is unlikely
to help her in any way. Ms. Gehi states, “This incident was illegal on multiple levels; my client
was assaulted, discriminated against, denied her medication, falsely arrested, and denied her
basic right to file a complaint against her assailant.”
Now, the victim of a brutal, public assault faces criminal consequences because of a false arrest
and a transphobic perpetrator.
TransJustice, the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color political group, is demanding
that NYPD, allow her to file a compliant and to stop their historical discrimination as well as
brutality against Transgender people. The group is calling for police accountability in regards
to the treatment of NYC Trans and Gender Non-Conforming communities. TransJustice is calling on
elected officials, community leaders and social justice activists to support this effort.
To find out ways you can support this case and other cases of NYPD discrimination/ brutality
against Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people of color, please call The Audre Lorde Project 718
596-0342 ext. 18
TransJustice is a project of the Audre Lorde Project, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit and
Transgender People of Color Center for Community Organizing of NYC.
seriously pissed me off. Who ever said that equality was the basis for our culture has just been proven wrong here...
I'm just stunned speechless right now. I mean, I sort of knew this sort of stuff went on, but this is the first time I have actually read about such outwardly blatent discrimination like this. and it just...
....
yeah, I don't even know what to say at the moment, I really don't!
x-posted to florida_phoenix right now, anyway.
the Phoenix
TransJustice is a Project of The Audre Lorde Project, a LGBTST People of Color Center for
Community Organizing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2006 Media Contact: Imani Henry (646) 342 9673
MCDONALDS MANAGER ASSAULTS TRANSGENDER WOMAN OF COLOR WITH LEAD PIPE; NYPD REFUSES TO ACCEPT HER
COMPLAINT
NYC TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CALLS PROTEST AT MIDTOWN SOUTH PCT. FRIDAY, SEPT. 8th 5PM
On July 10th, 2006 at 10pm, a transgender woman ate with her friends at the McDonald's at 341 5th
Ave. After eating, she tried to use the bathroom. The men's bathroom was out of order and all
evening men and women were using the women's bathroom. She asked the person behind the counter
which bathroom she should use and was told to use the women's bathroom. The victim is diabetic
and entered the bathroom to give herself an insulin injection. While she was in the bathroom, she
heard someone banging on the door yelling that they were going to “kill her.” She waited a moment
and then opened the door. An employee in a blue McDonald's shirt began beating her with a
lead pipe and telling her he was going to “kill her.” He used anti-gay and homophobic language.
He hit her on her arms and in the groin area with the pipe while the rest of the McDonald’s staff
cheered and chanted, “kill the faggot."
The victim’s friend called the police. When they arrived they refused to let her speak and
arrested her for assault. During this time, the victim discovered that the man with the pipe was
a manager. They left her bag at McDonald's and it contained all her medication, which she must
take four times a day.
After the victim was released from jail, she attempted to file a complaint against the Manager at
McDonalds on six separate occasions; July 18th, July 21st, July 23rd, July 26th, August 3rd, and
August 7th. On each of these occasions, her request was denied and she encountered harassment,
extremely long wait periods, and was threatened with arrest for “filing a false report.”
The determined victim went to the precinct alone, with legal advocates, and with friends. Each
time her request was denied. In addition, her attorney, Pooja Gehi, has demanded that the
arresting officer allow her to file a complaint. She supplied photographic evidence of the
victim’s injuries as well as eyewitness testimony from people who were at the incident. This too,
was denied. The officer informed Ms. Gehi that the “case was closed.” The Victim filed a
Complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) about the police. But this is unlikely
to help her in any way. Ms. Gehi states, “This incident was illegal on multiple levels; my client
was assaulted, discriminated against, denied her medication, falsely arrested, and denied her
basic right to file a complaint against her assailant.”
Now, the victim of a brutal, public assault faces criminal consequences because of a false arrest
and a transphobic perpetrator.
TransJustice, the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color political group, is demanding
that NYPD, allow her to file a compliant and to stop their historical discrimination as well as
brutality against Transgender people. The group is calling for police accountability in regards
to the treatment of NYC Trans and Gender Non-Conforming communities. TransJustice is calling on
elected officials, community leaders and social justice activists to support this effort.
To find out ways you can support this case and other cases of NYPD discrimination/ brutality
against Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people of color, please call The Audre Lorde Project 718
596-0342 ext. 18
TransJustice is a project of the Audre Lorde Project, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit and
Transgender People of Color Center for Community Organizing of NYC.
seriously pissed me off. Who ever said that equality was the basis for our culture has just been proven wrong here...
I'm just stunned speechless right now. I mean, I sort of knew this sort of stuff went on, but this is the first time I have actually read about such outwardly blatent discrimination like this. and it just...
....
yeah, I don't even know what to say at the moment, I really don't!
x-posted to florida_phoenix right now, anyway.
the Phoenix