Don't Ignore This. Please.

[jacob.ayden.averi]

This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. Don't watch the video if you're not in a good state of mind. But sign the petition and get the word out. Please. This is a link to my tumblr post:
http://jacobaveri.tumblr.com/post/4884159130/wondergirl-burymyregret-moonshine-warning-what
And this is a link to the article/petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-that-the-employees-on-duty-at-mcdonalds-be-held-responsible-in-the-beating-of-a-trans-woman
Here is what the article says:

After an unidentified trans woman tried to use the bathroom at a Baltimore McDonald's, two patrons started attacking her in full view of other customers and employees.These employees can be heard on the video shouting words of encouragement to the attackers. Its time we DEMAND that justice be served and that EVERY McDonald's employee on duty at this time, be terminated AND charged with accesory to a Hate Crime (at the very least).

The April 18 assault, took place at a McDonald's location in the 6300 block of  Kenwood Avenue in Rosedale, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb, according to the Baltimore County Police Department. A 14-year-old girl has been charged as a juvenile in connection with the assault, charges are still pending against an 18-year-old woman. "The incident remains under investigation and the State's Attorney's Office is reviewing the case," added investigators. McDonald's has release a statement on their website concerning this incident which can be viewed at http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/Media_Contacts.html .

This is not enough! The employees that stood by (and encouraged!) this attack should also be terminated immediately and face some type of criminal charges...this was a HATE CRIME, after all. Please sign this petition in hopes that justice can and will prevail for this trans woman.

Also please contact the Maryland States Attorney's Office -  Violent Crimes Division at 410-887-6610 and express your concerns about this matter.

I don't know if this has already been brought to everyone's attention, but if not...it really needs to be.

[Xanetia]

I signed the petition. What was done was horribly wrong and I agree with your thoughts on what else should be done. This is a HATE crime.

[Hikari]

And I was just having this argument the other day that Baltimore is a dangerous place, my friend was interested in moving there.

Also, the correct url is http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/recent_news/media_press_releases/Response_to_Baltimore_Incident.html for the statement, and I am not in a state to watch the vid, but I support these people getting jail 110%. A scary thing too, Baltimore, MD isn't far from me, and neither is Fredericksburg, VA So two attacks on transpeople within a month rather close by, something really needs to be done.

[Just Kate]

I'm glad the victim is alive and my prayers are for her not only now, but in the dark time to come as the media blitz continues.  I hope her example will serve as a public face that will urge and inspire greater acceptance of us.

I say punish the two girls to the fullest extent of the law. 

As for the crowd, it is not uncommon to see a lack of action from a crowd - it is called the bystander effect and for those who have not practiced having the guts to stand up to others, it is a debilitating effect.  They didn't commit a punishable crime, but I hope this is seared into their consciences.  I hope it enables them to act next time - to stop the atrocity even if it is easier to ignore it.

I don't think they didn't help because she was transgendered because cisgendered people have been beaten TO DEATH in public places and the crowd did just about as much as these bystanders did.  I will make one exception and that is for the idiots who were cheering the assaulters on - I don't know that they are guilty of a hate crime, but they are certainly guilty of something.

[Diane Elizabeth]

I signed.  This reminds me of a movie where Jody Foster's character was raped in a bar and the buddies were cheering them on.  For some reason the law didn't go after the rapist.  So she sued the bar and the patrons that were egging him on.  I found the movie having a deep affect on me.  This incident also have me worried.

[silverarrow]

Well, now I'm mad. How could people ENCOURAGE that?! I hope the attackers are charged to fullest extent of the law and beyond! I can't forgive people like that!! I need to stop talking before I say something I regret.

[xXRebeccaXx]

This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. Don't watch the video if you're not in a good state of mind. But sign the petition and get the word out. Please. This is a link to my tumblr post:
http://jacobaveri.tumblr.com/post/4884159130/wondergirl-burymyregret-moonshine-warning-what
And this is a link to the article/petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-that-the-employees-on-duty-at-mcdonalds-be-held-responsible-in-the-beating-of-a-trans-woman
Here is what the article says:I don't know if this has already been brought to everyone's attention, but if not...it really needs to be.

I say those 2 girls should be thrown in jail and brutally sodomized the rest of there miserable lives. Eighter that or they should hang.

[tekla]

I say those 2 girls should be thrown in jail and brutally sodomized the rest of there miserable lives. Eighter that or they should hang.

Congratulations, you're just like them.

[Cindy]

 There is a problem between revenge, justice and the criminal law..

Justice seeks to keep a means of regulating societies desire (?)  need (?) for punishment of criminals. The criminal law no longer seeks this. Criminal law is to find the people who are guilty of a crime and to isolate them and to educate them to be better people.

This has been a fantasy for ever.

But for 'normal' people to desire the ability to brutalise the criminal, is as wrong as the act the criminal conducted. OK I know your response was emotional and I'm may be more forgiving than Kat, but you state lynch mentality. And that is very dangerous. Because it can seem very acceptable in cases when heinous crimes have happened.

And it fuels the fools

Cindy

[tekla]

It's a personal paraphrase of one of my favorite Dylan lines from one of my favorite Dylan songs.  Amazing how often its' true.



Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.

[Cindy]

Sorry Kat,
Explain, I think there is too much USA for me.

I remember a case in Australia, I won't name names. She was brutally  kidnapped by 4 'men' she was stripped, raped in every way. Eventually her life was ended as she was being sodomised on her knees  looking into a dirty pool of water. They cut her throat as they orgasmed in her.

She was in her very early 20's worked as a nurse; was a valuable member of society,

They are in for life, and I hope they rot and have a very long life.

But I do not agree with capitol punishment.

I have problems in that I cannot reconcile those positions.

Thoughts  Kat?

Cindy

[justmeinoz]

Having irreconcilable positions is nothing new to being human.   If the people who watched the assault didn't attempt to prevent it  but actually encouraged it , they should be charged with aiding and abetting the offence.
I am not familiar with the US system ,could  this attack be treated as a Federal civil rights case if nothing worthwhile is done at the local level?
How is the victim?
Karen

[madirocks]

This would be "accessory to a crime" in the US. Most certainly the camera-man at least. He helped the perpetrators escape. And, the other employees that cheered on should also fall in the category for "aiding" the crime. However, I'm not a lawyer by any means, so I could be wrong.

Whatever the case, I hope the authorities get this sorted, and McDonald's implements a policy. This is very scary because I live pretty close, and know where this happened.

[tekla]

I have problems in that I cannot reconcile those positions.
Thoughts  Kat?

We have capitol punishment here on a state by state basis, and really when Ted Bundy gets strapped into Old Sparky (the 'cute' nickname for the electric chair in Florida) I ain't losing any sleep over it.  There are actions that are just so far beyond the pale that it's obviously your check-out time - just for the sake of the rest of us.  That being said I could never serve on a Death Penalty case as a juror (You have to say in court you agree with it the DP, and that you could apply it)  because a) I don't think it's right or proper for The State to wield such power, b) the possibility of error is high, and, mainly c) I don't want, seek or think it's right for me, Kat, to have that kind of power.  Besides Jeffery Dalhmer (and many others like him) were dead within a few years of hitting the prison, so giving them life may often times be a pretty short deal.

could  this attack be treated as a Federal civil rights case if nothing worthwhile is done at the local level?
Yes, it could.  Will it?  Doubtful.  Look they are going to max out the sentences on the two who did the beating.  They are responsible.  They did the crime.  It's highly doubtful any of the others were really 'accessories' as the law wants it to be.  You have to take a more active role.  Perhaps in a small town they might go that route, but in Baltimore, which has a high crime rate, they've got better things to do .

[madirocks]

I have problems in that I cannot reconcile those positions.
Thoughts  Kat?

We have capitol punishment here on a state by state basis, and really when Ted Bundy gets strapped into Old Sparky (the 'cute' nickname for the electric chair in Florida) I ain't losing any sleep over it.  There are actions that are just so far beyond the pale that it's obviously your check-out time - just for the sake of the rest of us.  That being said I could never serve on a Death Penalty case as a juror (You have to say in court you agree with it the DP, and that you could apply it)  because a) I don't think it's right or proper for The State to wield such power, b) the possibility of error is high, and, mainly c) I don't want, seek or think it's right for me, Kat, to have that kind of power.  Besides Jeffery Dalhmer (and many others like him) were dead within a few years of hitting the prison, so giving them life may often times be a pretty short deal.

could  this attack be treated as a Federal civil rights case if nothing worthwhile is done at the local level?
Yes, it could.  Will it?  Doubtful.  Look they are going to max out the sentences on the two who did the beating.  They are responsible.  They did the crime.  It's highly doubtful any of the others were really 'accessories' as the law wants it to be.  You have to take a more active role.  Perhaps in a small town they might go that route, but in Baltimore, which has a high crime rate, they've got better things to do .

You're absolutely right. And, I believe Baltimore still has the highest crime rate in the US.

[Centcomm01]

ok .. i have very un-girly gut response to this , ANYone black white .. yellow polkadot .. TG CIS ect ect should be able to go where they please and do what they want without fear of pain and assault
     however.. and im sure this piticular horse will be beaten to death made into glue and used long after the *animals* are dealt with , IMHO the perps of this attack are animals or .. possably insane i have very draconian views on crime , 
     and they are not popular - when you are no longer a productive member of sociity or worse a danger and have been proven to be so instead of paying say 10k a year on a criminals upkeep they should spend about 75 cents on a 357 magnum round to the back of the head or better yet a rope or sold into slavery and forced to work in hazardous jobs NOW before i go on , this should ONLY be reserved for murderers . rapists and deadly felons who have been proven to be a danger to other human beings ..

that victim no matter what race or gender  has a right to live without fear and sadly that "thin blue line " is often over worked and underpaid and gutted by rules and strictures that prevent them from doing what they "feel" so we have to help them that means being alert .. and helpful even if thats just grabbing a cell phone and calling 911 or taking a picture with a phone camera and then calling 911.. back it up .. be on guard ok /rant off

[tekla]

Sure, but who gets to make that call.  And no matter who it is, I don't trust them.  Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Cindy]

I think my biggest worry is that so many 'innocent' people have been found guilty. This is not a USA problem it is world wide.

How do we protect the 'innocent' criminal. Because once the trial is over and sentence has begun. No one really cares anymore. There is right for appeal, but that only works for the rich.

Sorry feeling a touch cynical


Cindy 

[tekla]

It's true, the wheels of justice grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine.  And yeah, it's a lot easier if you win the first case, appeals are hard to come by.

[Cindy]

How then should 'we' proceed. If a death penalty or a life in prison meant should there be  are trial at some time to determine the 'facts' were correct?

If it was my life I would want a review.

Cindy