Transgender beating victim: It was a hate crime

ROSEDALE, Md. — A transgender woman whose brutal attack at a McDonald's restaurant in Maryland was captured on video that later went viral said Saturday she was the victim of a hate crime.

Twenty-two-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis told The Baltimore Sun that since the attack last Monday, "I'm just afraid to go outside now because of stuff like this."

The video posted online shows a woman being attacked and apparently having a seizure. Baltimore County police say a 14-year-old girl has been charged as a juvenile and an 18-year-old woman faces an assault charge in the case.

Polis told the newspaper that after she used the restroom, "They said, `That's a dude, that's a dude and she's in the female bathroom."'

Video of vicious beating in McDonald's goes viral

Polis said she was confronted by a girl who spat in her face and accused Polis of talking to "my man." Polis said another girl then also spat on her face, and that they then beat and kicked her, pulled her by the hair and tore off her earrings.

"They really hurt me really bad," Polis said in a videotaped interview that was posted on the newspaper's website.

All the while, she said, a McDonald's employees recorded the attack on his cell phone even though she told him to stop. She said her injuries would certainly have been worse had an older female customer not assisted her.

"They just seemed like they wanted to pick a fight that night," Polis said.

Lt. Robert McCullough, a spokesman for the Baltimore County police, told The Associated Press on Saturday evening that police are working with the state's attorney's office to determine whether other charges should be brought and whether anyone else should face charges.

"I'm sure our investigators will be doing additional follow-up, speaking with the victim in this case," McCullough said.

Asked about Polis' allegation that she was a hate crime victim, McCullough said investigators would certainly look into such claims.

"Generally when it comes to cases that involve racial, religious, ethnic or sexual orientation from an investigative standpoint, we approach the case from the perspective of the victim," he said.

Earlier Saturday, the McDonald's franchise owner said he was reviewing the response of his employees.

Franchise owner Mitchell McPherson said in a statement that he was shocked by the beating inside the Rosedale restaurant. The company also condemned the beating. McPherson said the employee who took the video and appeared to alert the assailants that police were on the way "is no longer employed with my organization." Other workers may also be disciplined.

Equality Maryland has called for the attack to be investigated as a hate crime, according to The Sun, and Polis' twin brother said it's painful to watch his sister face such abuse.

"My sister has gotten this her entire life," Matty Polis said. "Being the way she is, she's always had a hard time."

[T99D23]

In my opinion, many people become targets for hate crimes due to their perceived connection to a particular group in society that can be defined by ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and possibly political affiliation. To say this is a hate crime is saying that this woman got brutally beaten either because she was white or because she is transgender it seems more because of the latter. This story is to say the least very disturbing, not only because of the violence, but because only one person, an older female customer and then finally one male employee did anything to try to help the victim who was beaten. Besides that, the fact that one man, an employee of McDonald's stood there video taped and laughed at this incident is appalling. Many people wonder, where was the management in this restaurant and why weren't the police called sooner? Even though this crime is truly horrific, there is one small silver lining where the older female customer came to the victim's aid when it was obvious the employee's thought it was funny. It is really kind of disappointing that in our society today a lot of people no longer feel a strong moral obligation or concern for the well-being of others. In addition to that to sit back and watch the taunting and continued beating of this individual was outrageous no matter what the circumstances were. The outcome of this incident is unknown, however, in the event that it becomes a crime of hate one can only hope the individuals responsible will be brought to justice.

[pnamor]

They should lay them on the ground, and build a jail on top of them........

[askagain]

Tricky. You are a man and a woman brings her 3-year-old son into the men's room to urinatre. You are a woman and a man brings his 3-year-old-daughter into the lady's bathroom to urinate. You ask them about this and they simply respond too bad because their child has to urinate. You may feel entitled to your privacy. Do you argue, do you call the police, or do you swallow your pride? What about generational differences. Some things tolerated today were absolutely not accepted 10, 30, or 60 years ago. Isn't change fun?

[barbaram99]

I am still pissed over this. As Mainer I was taught to mind my own business. I am in Seattle. The police will not help a GLBT person. It would do no good to file a police report as they would not take it. GLBT persons are hated and that is wrong.
I do not spell well and I can figure out what the person is saying.
America has always been this way. Hate ..I know it too well. I go about my business. There are people that don't like my blindness.
We are all different. I have notice the beatings/bullying are taking place by kids..Where are the parents. They don't care,.
People like that Trans persons should not have to be in fear. They are. This is not the America I grew up in. I am a lay person.

[RavenSword]

Yes, I know I mispelt things I was pissed off and tired bad combination but anyone who can read typos knows what I am trying to say.

[RavenSword]

It should not matter what a person's sexual preference is , color of their skin , or preferred gender. If people would focus and fix their own fear and insecurities crimes , senseless crimes would NOT happen, For god's people live your own lives and stay out of everyone else's who they prefer to be is NONE of your business.All of them should be punished those who stood by and watched are just as guilty as the ones who did this horrible crime. No one should have to live their life being afraid of what others think. So to those who did this , to those who stood by , to those as closed minded as the ones on the video " We are all born different , either learn to except the differences or don't but mind your own business and you might actaully accomplish something worth while in your own life rather then make someone else's miserable"

[hunt1017]

This is not a race issue. This is a HATE CRIME. Color is irrelevant. Anytime you strike someone in the head is is "Attempted Murder". This is wrong and they should be punished accordingly.

[barbaram99]

I know this is a hot issue. I really do. My room mate is a transgenger . A trans woman. I know that my room mate has to use the restroom when out. Because of the nature of the body being male - men's restrooms are used.They don't have unisex rest rooms. I am childless. The restroom is something we have talked about. My room mate lives,dresses as a woman. We live in Seattle. It is not against the law to be transgender and they were born that way. I have lived with this person since 1983. I have my room. We are disablied people.
What pissed me was the bullying and beating of that trans woman. As a legally blind person I can understand that person's fear. I have not been attacked here in Seattle yet.
What good is a hate crime law that bush put in place when it ts broken or fits a chosen few. Firstly I am appalled that that was allowed to happen and they just let the girls drag that helpness person across the floor by her hair and beat her. The hate in this nation is appalling. I know that hate is. I was taught the America is the greatest nation on earth as a girl years ago. I am 56. What would Jesus do. He would be appalled and step in to do the right thing. We have a bunch of barbarians in America. They start young. Thugs. There are gangs that mess with my roommate when alone. They are taught this in the home,school,church,friends etc.
Putting them in lock up don't work as the prisons are full of their kind. They have no future.
I have been bullied from the time I was a little girl. I know abuse as well. They can pass all the laws they wish -it won't change a thing. We need to do what worked in my grandparents days.I am a End Englander by birth and upbringing, My family is there still. I do not blame the computer for the problems. I do blame this nation and poor rasising of her children which can be tracedd back many years.
My room mate and I do not attend church. My roommate is a trans woman and I am a Deist..The founding fathers were Deists.

[AloneInReason]

There was a (better) time when hanging out in the girls bathroom when you have a d*ck was acceptable grounds for a beat down.

Now having said that....the common sense in those times also dictated that someone get roughed up a little and taught a lesson, not savagely beaten into pulp.

both sides in this story are not without blame.

[hakori]

So you actually think you're alone in reason? Seriously? Taught a lesson for what? Taught a lesson for being transgender or taught a lesson for actually having the courage for expressing her natural born identity or both? What is this victim to be blamed for? If she had gone into the men's room the beating could have been worse, who knows. What exactlty was she suppose to do--go in the bushes outside the building and face arrest? Or would you prefer that she just conform to your idea of normal and abide by your sense what is acceptable? You're the reasonble one. You tell me...

[zkfc020]

She had the sex change operation....so she doesnt have a d**k. Gues your theory is thrown out. So, what is her blame?

[morris2196]

The number of savages in our society seems to be increasing, and getting younger. No, that is not a racist comment; check out the story a day or so ago on a kid named Seath Tyler.

[hakori]

What else can we expect when one half of the political process in America now teaches intolerance of all who are different or even have different opinions.