Surveillance cameras caught footage of the suspect in a possible anti-trans hate crime digging a plastic bottle out of a subway trash can before throwing the bottle at a trans woman and then pushing her onto the tracks.
A New York transgender woman was treated for cuts and bruises after being pushed onto the train tracks in a subway station near Greenwich Village, according to NBC Channel 4 in New York. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
According to reports, the man who pushed the 28-year-old woman was “acting erratically.” Witnesses said he approached the victim and asked, “What are you looking at?” He then ran to a nearby trash can, pulled out an empty plastic bottle and threw it at the woman. He then went back to the woman and pushed her onto the train tracks.
Surveillance video, from which the screen grab above was taken, shows the man running to the trash can to dig out the plastic bottle.
Thankfully, the victim in this instance suffered no serious injuries. But it is clear evidence that even as celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner are bringing the world’s attention to bear on the trans community and in doing so, hopefully, making the world a better, safer place for trans women and men, the hatred and violence against transgender people continues.
As Laverne Cox said in a Tumblr post yesterday (June 2):
“Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have. It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people. We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class. I have hoped over the past few years that the incredible love I have received from the public can translate to the lives of all trans folks. Trans folks of all races, gender expressions, ability, sexual orientations, classes, immigration status, employment status, transition status, genital status etc.. I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are as well as shifting public policies to fully support the lives and well being of all of us. The struggle continues…”
