Across an overwhelmingly large crowd of supporters, the song ‘We Shall Overcome’ could be heard during a Monday night vigil in support of transgender woman Chrissy Lee Polis – the same woman who was brutally attacked in a Baltimore McDonald’s after using a public restroom.
The video – taped by an McDonald’s employee, now fired – caught the attention of millions of viewers on YouTube who were in uproar after witnessing the brutal attack. Polis, a transgender woman, was beaten by two women after she tried to use the women’s restroom. The attackers, 14 year old and 18 year old women, beat Polis as passerbys watched – doing nothing to prevent or stop the attack.
Polis appears to have suffered a seizure during the attack.
Just one week prior to the attack, the Maryland Senate voted to introduce legislation that would protect transgender people in the state.
“’It was horrible, but the good thing about it being on videotape is that for anybody who thinks there’s no urgency to this issue, and to passing this legislation, can now see that this is not just something that people are making up,” said transgender activist Dana Beyer, an attendee at the vigil. “[Transgender people] need these protections. These are basic human protections — to be able to go to McDonald’s and not be beaten.”
Pro-LGBT groups Trans-United, TransMaryland, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore, and the Baltimore County for Equality, including other allies, planned the vigil for Polis. Over 300 supporters gathered in support of the beaten woman.
‘”This was a very public visible case of violence but this kind of violence happens every day in the transgender community. When it’s not happening to us, we’re afraid it’s going to be happening to us. People are tired of it and want to do something about it. Coming together is a good first start.” she said.
Now more than ever, Maryland is urged to begin legislation to protect the transgender and LGBT community of its state.
