Violence erupted on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, this past weekend when a transgender woman was attacked and beaten unconscious by four men. Now, police have finally revealed footage of two of the attackers to the public.
According to CBS News, the attack happened around 11:30 p.m. Sunday in Bushwick. Police say the 28-year-old victim was walking when four men began following her and shouting transphobic and homophobic slurs at her.
“What are you doing on this block?” one of the assailants shouted.
The woman began arguing with the men and tried to get away, but three of them began kicking her as the fourth man hit her in the head with a plexiglass board, knocking her down to the sidewalk. The woman survived the attack and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition.
According to DNAinfo.com, one of the victim’s friends, who was walking with her at the time of the attack, said it was shocking to see the transphobic attack.
“It’s pretty disturbing in New York City, where you think of it as such a safe place for LGBT folk, that things like this can still happen,” the friend explained. “I’ve lived in Brooklyn all my life; you want to think that you’re safe.”
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the case and recently released a store’s video surveillance footage of two of the men.
Police describe one as “a black man who was last seen wearing a dark, long-sleeve shirt, gray sweatpants, white sneakers, a ski cap and a gray sleeveless sweatshirt with the word “Freedom” on it,” and the other as “a black man with a short haircut, who was last seen wearing a blue Nike hooded sweatshirt with blue sweatpants.”
“There is no place in New York for such bigoted and hateful acts and I urge anyone with knowledge of this assault to come forward and alert the police,” Comptroller Scott Stringer said in a statement. “We pride ourselves on tolerance, diversity and inclusion in our city and no one should live in fear as they walk the streets.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477), or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
We hope these men are finally brought to justice and that any further attacks on transgender people are stopped. –nicholas robinson
