Violent Attacks On Transgender People Raise Alarm

[Shana A]

Violent Attacks On Transgender People Raise Alarm

by Beenish Ahmed
Morning Edition
September 29, 2011

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/29/140877153/violent-attacks-on-transgender-people-raise-alarm

A series of shootings and violent attacks put Washington, D.C.'s transgender community on edge this summer. Police hesitate to call the attacks hate crimes, but they've stepped up their patrols. Still, the transgender community is demanding more action.

[...]

Days after the shooting, transgender activists Earline Budd and Ruby Corado held a vigil for Mclean. Today marks the first time they've returned to the site since then — and they are shocked by what they see.

The singed and severed legs of a teddy bear are strewn across the street, and floral bouquets are charred black. Corado and Budd find that the makeshift memorial they had left behind has been torched.

Budd sees the vandalism as an omen.

[Sage]

Seriously, desecrating a memorial?     That is unbelievably disrespectful.  Some people are just plain awful.