Unfinished Lives

Notorious MacDonald’s Trans Beating Draws Hate Charges Against Teens

Chrissy Lee Polis, victim of transphobic attack

Baltimore, Maryland – Transwoman Chrissy Polis, victim of a brutal beating in a Baltimore MacDonald’s restaurant that was caught on video tape, won some small measure of justice Monday.  Officials are charging two teenagers with a hate crime because of the roles they played in attacking her in an incident that roused the conscience of the state of Maryland and far beyond, after the video of the assault went viral on the internet.  According to EDGE, Teonna Monae Brown, 18, was indicted for the assault and a hate crime in the attack on Polis on April 18.  Brown is also charged with assault upon a MacDonald’s employee who tried to stop the beating, and for assaulting a customer in the restaurant, as well.  A 14-year-old defendant has also been charged in the assault against Polis.  The Associated Press customarily does not publish the identities of minors in criminal proceedings. Both teens are being held in custody.  Prosecutors in the case say no one else is being investigated in the crime, and there will be no further charges. Brown maintains her innocence, and has retained counsel to defend her. Polis, 22, contended since the day of the attack that it was a hate crime.  She told journalists from the Baltimore Sun that her chief assailant accused her of “hitting on her man” as Polis attempted to use the women’s restroom in the restaurant. Brown and the second suspect, Polis alleged, spat in her face, screamed epithets, and then dragged her around the floor of the restaurant by the hair. Brown also tore out her earrings, according to the victim.  The sensational video aroused tens of thousands around the nation because of the explicit brutality of the attack.  Viewers saw Polis repeatedly beaten.  She also suffered an apparent seizure as a consequence of the assault. Since the incident, hundreds of people have attended rallies and vigils for justice in the Polis case.  Transgender and gay activist groups, such as Trans-United, TransMaryland, the Baltimore County for Equality, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore; and other allies have rallied to support the victim and to advocate for the passage of legislation protecting transgender women and men in Maryland. Well-known transgender activist Dana Beyer told EDGE: ’’As Dr. Martin Luther King said if there is injustice to one person, there’s injustice to all of us. But this shows that we are a very large community. Family and friends are willing to stand up with us to protest violence, hate and injustice. I hope that Chrissy is going to know that she’s got even more friends than she knows she has.’’  For now, Polis is making no more statements to the press. She stays in seclusion, and fears to go out in public as a result of the trauma she endured in the attack. Perhaps now some vindication will come to her and to the transgender community, thanks to official acknowledgement of the transphobic nature of the attack against her.

May 17, 2011 - Posted by unfinishedlives | African Americans, Anglo Americans, Anti-LGBT hate crime, Beatings and battery, gender identity/expression, harassment, Hate Crimes, hate speech, Heterosexism and homophobia, Law and Order, Legislation, LGBTQ, MacDonald's, Maryland, Perpetrators of Hate Crime, Protests and Demonstrations, Slurs and epithets, Social Justice Advocacy, transgender persons, transphobia, Vigils | African Americans, Anglo Americans, Anti-LGBT hate crime, Beatings and battery, harassment, Hate Crimes, hate crimes legislation, Law and Order, MacDonald's, Maryland, perpetrators, Protests and Demonstrations, Slurs and epithets, Social Justice Advocacy, transgender persons, transphobia, Vigils