broken news

Read this now. Do whatever you can, please.
My commentary later. For now: This. Cannot. Stand.
--ll

EDIT: I want to point out that I'm working to corroborate sources. While cases like this have verifiably happened before, the Audre Lorde Project's website currently lists no Action Alerts, and all the sources I've seen for this story seem to come from the same document. I've verified that there is indeed a trans woman of color named "Chris Sforza" in that area, so we already know it's not made up out of whole cloth. More information when I can get it. --ll, 10/08

Amnesty International has picked this up, along with another case of police abuse of a transgender woman of color, and that says to me that sources are good. They have a page up of information and addresses and channels to go through, which I recommend you go to. Please do what you can. Thank you. --ll, 11/06 (bumped to accomodate new information in bold; original posted was dated 10/07/06.)

National Action Alert: MCDONALDS MANAGER ASSAULTS TRANSGENDER WOMAN OF COLOR WITH LEAD PIPE; NYPD REFUSES TO ACCEPT HER COMPLAINT /Call Inspector McCarthy and Officer Bonner at NYPD Midtown South PCT to Demand anti-trans violence complaint is filed Tel. (212) 239-9811

On July 10th, 2006 at 10pm, Christina Sforza, a transgender woman ate with her friends at the McDonald's at 341 5th Ave. After eating, she tried to use the bathroom. The men's bathroom was out of order and all evening men and women were using the women's bathroom. She asked the person behind the counter which bathroom she should use and was told to use the women's bathroom. The victim is diabetic and entered the bathroom to give herself an insulin injection. While she was in the bathroom, she heard someone banging on the door yelling that they were going to "kill her." She waited a moment and then opened the door. An employee in a blue McDonald's shirt began beating her with a lead pipe and telling her he was going to "kill her." He used anti-gay and homophobic language. He hit her on her arms and in the groin area with the pipe while the rest of the McDonald's staff cheered and chanted, "kill the faggot."

The victim's friend called the police. When they arrived they refused to let her speak and arrested her for assault. During this time, the victim discovered that the man with the pipe was a manager. They left her bag at McDonald's and it contained all her medication, which she must take four times a day.

After the victim was released from jail, she attempted to file a complaint against the Manager at McDonalds on six separate occasions; July 18th, July 21st, July 23rd, July 26th, August 3rd, and August 7th. On each of these occasions, her request was denied and she encountered harassment, extremely long wait periods, and was threatened with arrest for "filing a false report."

The determined victim went to the precinct alone, with legal advocates, and with friends. Each time her request was denied. In addition, her attorney, Pooja Gehi, of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project has demanded that the arresting officer allow her to file a complaint. She supplied photographic evidence of the victim's injuries as well as eyewitness testimony from people who were at the incident. This too, was denied.
The officer informed Ms. Gehi that the "case was closed." The Victim filed a Complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) about the police. But this is unlikely to help her in any way. Ms. Gehi states, "This incident was illegal on multiple levels; my client was assaulted, discriminated against, denied her medication, falsely arrested, and denied her basic right to file a complaint against her assailant."

Now, the victim of a brutal, public assault faces criminal consequences because of a false arrest and a transphobic perpetrator.

*****
TransJustice, the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color political group, is demanding that the NYPD, allow her to file a compliant and to stop their historic discrimination as well as brutality against Transgender people. The group is calling for police accountability in regards to the treatment of NYC Trans and Gender Non-Conforming communities. TransJustice is calling on elected officials, community leaders and social justice activists to support this effort.


TransJustice Needs You To:

1)Inundate Officer Bonner and his superior officer Inspector McCarty at the NYPD Midtown South Precinct with phone calls demanding that Christina Sforza be allowed to file a criminal complaint against her attacker.

Call (212) 239-9811 COMMUNITY AFFAIRS (212) 239-9846 or Write 357 West 35th Street New York, New York 10001

2) If you live in NYC or NJ: please attend Action Alert Meeting on Wednesday, October 11th. 6:30 pm Allies Welcomed. This meeting will be held at Housing Works, 320 West 13th Street on the 4th Floor.

3) If you live in NYC or NJ: PACK the Court for Christina, October 26th, starting at 9am. 100 Centre Street -Part C (between Chambers and Canal Streets) Take 4,5,6 Trains to Chambers Streets or Q, N, R, W Canal)

To find out ways you can support this case and other cases of NYPD discrimination/ brutality against Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people of color, please call The Audre Lorde Project (718) 596-0342 ext. 18