McDonalds Assailant Charged With Hate Crime
Metro Weekly has an update on charges filed in the beating of a transgender woman in Rosedale last month.
Good.
We will hear squawking from people in our community who don't believe there should be special charges for beating up someone because of the kind of person they are. The point would be that the physical act of beating up someone because of their gender identity is identical to the physical act of beating them up for offending you in some personal way, and extra charges for "thought crimes" are unnecessary. But the government has a responsibility to protect citizens, and in particular, in this country, to protect our rights as individuals. The people who committed this crime intended to use violence to limit the personal freedom of an American citizen because of who she was, and that is a crime that goes beyond simple assault.
Or, if that logic is too abstract, just imagine that someone was dragged and shoved around while onlookers laughed, that they were punched and kicked until they had a seizure because they were Christian, and let's see how eager they will be to invoke hate crime statutes.
This crime was well documented, captured on video, and I don't think it is going to be hard to get a conviction. There is simply no argument that it is all right to beat up a woman for using the ladies room.
The grand jury for Baltimore County indicted Teonna Brown, 18, with five charges on Monday, May 16, including that of a hate crime, for the physical attack on Chrissy Polis, a transgender woman, at the Rosedale, Md., McDonald's on Monday, April 18.
According to information obtained from the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office, Brown was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and a hate crime for the attack on Polis. Brown also was charged with second-degree assault charges regarding Vicki Thoms, who tried to intervene during the attack, and Darrick Jones.
In addition to Brown, the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office states that a female juvenile has been charged in the Juvenile Court with the identical charges as the adult. Both individuals are currently detained. According to the office, no other individuals will be charged "with crimes arising out of this incident."
The April 18 incident was caught on video tape by a McDonald's employee who was later fired. The attack left Polis battered and angered members of the LGBT community and beyond who gathered at the McDonald's one week later for a vigil calling an end to violence. McDonald's Suspect Indicted on Assault, Hate Crimes Charges
Good.
We will hear squawking from people in our community who don't believe there should be special charges for beating up someone because of the kind of person they are. The point would be that the physical act of beating up someone because of their gender identity is identical to the physical act of beating them up for offending you in some personal way, and extra charges for "thought crimes" are unnecessary. But the government has a responsibility to protect citizens, and in particular, in this country, to protect our rights as individuals. The people who committed this crime intended to use violence to limit the personal freedom of an American citizen because of who she was, and that is a crime that goes beyond simple assault.
Or, if that logic is too abstract, just imagine that someone was dragged and shoved around while onlookers laughed, that they were punched and kicked until they had a seizure because they were Christian, and let's see how eager they will be to invoke hate crime statutes.
This crime was well documented, captured on video, and I don't think it is going to be hard to get a conviction. There is simply no argument that it is all right to beat up a woman for using the ladies room.
posted by JimK at 8:17 AM
6 Comments:
"My client maintains her innocence. Anything that happened at the restaurant on her part was entirely in self-defense." -- Teonna Brown's lawyer.
No doubt we'll have anonymous commenters stating that this is correct, that assaulting a trans woman after she leaves a female restroom - then leaving the building and coming back later to repeat the assault - is just "self defence". The showernuts certainly think so.
I have a number of friends who complain loudly whenever I advocate for hate crime laws specifically adding gender identity and expression. They obviously have issues with transgender people. One is a even a self identifying 'admirer'!
"The people who committed this crime intended to use violence to limit the personal freedom of an American citizen because of who she was, and that is a crime that goes beyond simple assault."
no, actually, that's what all assaults do
"Or, if that logic is too abstract, just imagine that someone was dragged and shoved around while onlookers laughed, that they were punched and kicked until they had a seizure because they were Christian, and let's see how eager they will be to invoke hate crime statutes."
hopefully, such an assailant would receive justice for the act, or forgiveness if they asked for it, but there should be no extra penalty for hating Christians
in truth, Christians expect to be persecuted and are commanded to rejoice when it happens
here's Matthew 5:10-12:
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"This crime was well documented, captured on video, and I don't think it is going to be hard to get a conviction."
based on what I saw, the hate crime might be hard to prove
"There is simply no argument that it is all right to beat up a woman for using the ladies room."
no, there isn't
but no one has tried to make such an argument
aren't you being somewhat dishonest to imply that someone has argued that?
You Anons are just so out of touch with reality-- It's funny, really!
It's interesting to know that mostly liberal areas (DC and Maryland) have far less divorces than the rest of the country. I guess we are doing something right!
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Maryland-and-DC-Divorce-Less-than-the-Rest-of-US-122057594.html
actually, I realize I don't speak for everyone but, I don't find that interesting at all
try again
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