God Bless America?
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 OFCOLOR
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.
So much for freedom and equality, huh? I would love to wring some necks now. I ask that anyone who is inclined to post this in their LJ so that others can see it and be informed as well. People need to get pissed or nothing will get done.