Attack on a Transgender Woman at McDonald's Should be Investigated as a Hate Crime, Says New York Civil Rights Violation Lawyer
A transgender woman was brutally attacked in what appears to be a hate crime.
NEW YORK, NY, May 08, 2011
Authorities have yet to determine if the brutal assault of a transgender woman at a McDonald's was a hate crime.After examining the initial evidence, New York civil rights violation lawyer David Perecman believes that the violent attack may be classified as a hate crime.
As reported by the New York Daily News, Chrissy Lee Polis says it's not the first time she's been assaulted because of her sexual identity.
Polis said she was attacked after she used the ladies restrooms at a McDonald's in Baltimore, Maryland. The 22-year-old claims one of the female attackers accused her of "looking at my man." When Polis insisted that she had not even noticed the girl's partner, the physical abuse began with the teenager spitting in her face and quickly escalated to the victim being dragged across the floor by her hair and kicked in the head repeatedly.
As reprehensibly, McDonald's employees allowed the attack to continue. one employee, Vernon Hackett, captured the assault on video, never once attempting to help. The video shows other employees also doing nothing to stop the possible hate crime, and even laughing.
The footage of the alleged hate crime was put online and attracted over 450,000 views.
Michael Silverman, Executive Director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund asked that "authorities fully investigate this attack as a hate crime."
As a defender of civil rights, New York civil rights violation lawyer Perecman supports this request.
According to Silverman, approximately one transgender person is murdered every month in the United States. New York civil rights violation lawyers at The Perecman Firm are also familiar with this alarming statistic.
Polis suffered a seizure as a result of the attack. The hate crime victim also had several cuts and bruises. Police have arrested two teenagers for the assault.
New York State law classifies it as a hate crime for an individual to target and attack a victim because of the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation.
It is essential to prevent hate crimes and other civil rights violations in New York. Civil rights violation lawyers at The Perecman Firm encourage victims of gender harassment and hate crimes to contact them.
"Hate crimes against all community members in New York, including LGBT members, will be investigated and prosecuted as hate crimes," said New York civil rights violation lawyer Perecman. "No person ever deserves to be a victim of gender harassment or violence regardless of their gender identity or personal presentation."
For the past 30 years, the New York civil rights violation, gender discrimination, age discrimination, and elder abuse lawyers at The Perecman Firm, PLLC have handled all types of cases including civil rights violations. David Perecman, founder of the Firm, is a Board Director and the past Secretary and Treasurer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Labor Law Committee. Mr. Perecman's achievements have brought him recognition as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in America" and The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition" for the years 2007-2010.
Website: http://www.perecman.com