NationStates Jolt Archive

"National Action Alert: McDonald's Manager Assaults Transgender Woman of Colour with Lead Pipe; NYPD Refuses to Accept Her Compaint

Call Inspector McCarthy and Officer Bonner at NYPD Midtown South PCT to Demand anti-Trans violence complaint is filed
Tel. 1212 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 aday.

After the victim was released from jail, she attempted to file a complaint against the Manager at McDonald's 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 Colour 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 1212 239 9811 COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 1212 239 9846 or Write:
357 West 35th St.
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)"

Fuck. That’s all I’ve got to say. I don’t live anywhere near there, but you bet your ass I’ll be writing.

Fuck! Ok, that's it I am boycotting Mc. Donalds and New York City. :upyours:

Fuck! Ok, that's it I am boycotting Mc. Donalds and New York City. :upyours:
It’s a franchise. A McDonalds in New York has nothing to do with one in Texas.

It’s a franchise. A McDonalds in New York has nothing to do with one in Texas.

Yea, but this act is still deplorable, and should not be accepted, espically by someone who manages a store or resturant. The only way to send a message to ANYONE in the private sector is through your wallet. I heard Burger King makes better burgers anyways.

Yea, but this act is still deplorable, and should not be accepted, espically by someone who manages a store or resturant. The only way to send a message to ANYONE in the private sector is through your wallet. I heard Burger King makes better burgers anyways.

I suppose you’re right. Fast food is nauseating anyway.

weird... I can't find any coverage of this anywhere.

you would think newspapers would be quick to print any wrong doing of any police... all I find are blogs.

with all those witnesses, one would think some news media would've covered this...

I suppose you’re right. Fast food is nauseating anyway.

See, I think people forgot about that. I think people forgot just how powerful their wallets really are. I really think the Libertarian party should pick up on that, and teach the masses that if they don't like what the private sector is doing, then vote with your wallet! Don't depend on the government to force the private sector to change, instead change it yourself with your wallet!

two questions:

Is there no Independent Police Complaints Commission or anything like the one in UK?

AND

Who the f*ck owns McDonald's? I want to write to them

It’s a franchise. A McDonalds in New York has nothing to do with one in Texas.
It's a franchise, head-office has a financial stake in ensuring the chain isnt boycotted and power over each individual franchise. Provided one remembers to let head office know of their boycott (and the reasons, plus what action ought to be taken by McDonalds against any employers or the restaurant branch concerned), it's a perfectly rational and potentially effective form of protest.

weird... I can't find any coverage of this anywhere.

you would think newspapers would be quick to print any wrong doing of any police... all I find are blogs.

with all those witnesses, one would think some news media would've covered this...

I found it on LiveJournal.

That is pretty retarded, they shouldn't have beaten it.

I heard Burger King makes better burgers anyways.

Hardly, their burgers are disgusting, and grossly overpriced.

On Topic: the Human race is capable of a lot of depravity.

So...there's like, a source right?

I found it on LiveJournal.

...So, Live Journal had a source, right? CNN or something?

weird... I can't find any coverage of this anywhere.

you would think newspapers would be quick to print any wrong doing of any police... all I find are blogs.

with all those witnesses, one would think some news media would've covered this...

That's good to hear, because I don't believe this.

Following her to the bathroom to beat her up with a lead pipe without any previous altercation? The rest of the staff standing around and cheering "kill the faggot!"? All of her complaints being rejected and the "case being closed"? And all of this in New York City?

I don't believe a word.

Well, I hope I'm right.

The only thing close to a queen named Cristina Sforza that I can find reference to anywhere is a Danish noble in the 16th century. ;)

Hardly, their burgers are disgusting, and grossly overpriced.

On Topic: the Human race is capable of a lot of depravity.
Pfft, McD's are just as pricey!

The only thing close to a queen named Cristina Sforza that I can find reference to anywhere is a Danish noble in the 16th century.;)
Just proving that liberals make up stories all the time!

Pfft, McD's are just as pricey!


Just proving that liberals make up stories all the time!

I didn't make it up! I found it on LiveJournal!

Pfft, McD's are just as pricey!

I don't know about New Zealand but in Britain they'll sell you a bog-standard burger for 99p, while Burger King will charge up to £4 for not a lot more quality. But y'know, my data may be out of date, I haven't been to either establishment in years.

I didn't make it up! I found it on LiveJournal!

Hehe, I love the irony in that statement.

As if I needed another reason to boycott McDonalds. She should sue the shit out of Ronald.

As if I needed another reason to boycott McDonalds. She should sue the shit out of Ronald.

They ought to give her custody of the Hamburglar.

They ought to give her custody of the Hamburglar.

Mayor McCheese should resign over this scandal.

http://i12.tinypic.com/2hnx9hk.jpg

I found it on LiveJournal....So, Live Journal had a source, right? CNN or something?

I didn't make it up! I found it on LiveJournal!we didn't say (or at Least I didn't :p ) that YOU made it up... but someone did. too many inconsistancies to make it believable to me.

*wonders when I'll hear about this on CNN or Fox* :p

That's good to hear, because I don't believe this.

Following her to the bathroom to beat her up with a lead pipe without any previous altercation? The rest of the staff standing around and cheering "kill the faggot!"? All of her complaints being rejected and the "case being closed"? And all of this in New York City?

I don't believe a word.

Well, I hope I'm right.
and with the popularity of cell phones/digital cameras, there should be pictures... and with that many eyewitnesses, it would've ended up in print somewhere.

add to that the contact info... sounds like a tool to harrass someone needlessly...

Mayor McCheese should resign over this scandal.

http://i12.tinypic.com/2hnx9hk.jpg

I'll second the motion.

That's, uh, pretty twisted...

Mayor McCheese should resign over this scandal.

http://i12.tinypic.com/2hnx9hk.jpg

ever notice that things went down hill after Sheriff Big Mac vanished without a trace?

That's, uh, pretty twisted...

No kidding man. I don't want to believe it happened, but......


I'll truly believe it when it shows up on CNN and MSNBC.


I wonder if Phelps had something to do with this....;)

Demented assholes :rolleyes:

Im not convinced this is true though someone properly researching this matter wouldnt be able to find numerous true cases of this type of abuse, so if it isnt true, its not only a lie but a very lazy lie

I call bullshit. This would have been all over the news in New York and it wasn't. I've Googled and NO New York newspapers, radio stations, or television stations had anything on it. Nor does anyone else. Just blogs.

I call bullshit. This would have been all over the news in New York and it wasn't. I've Googled and NO New York newspapers, radio stations, or television stations had anything on it. Nor does anyone else. Just blogs.

So what? It gave me a chance to write a post about Mayor McCheese, and in the long run isn't that what really matters?

Reprehensible, if true. Though the major news outlets not picking up on the story doesn't mean it's false. I read stuff on the internet all the time that I don't hear of for days or even weeks afterwards from the major news outlets.

We're talking three months ago, supposedly.

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_540/newsbriefs.html

Scroll down.

I call bullshit. This would have been all over the news in New York and it wasn't. I've Googled and NO New York newspapers, radio stations, or television stations had anything on it. Nor does anyone else. Just blogs.

And transgender abuse is regularly reported in the mainstream news?

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_540/newsbriefs.html

Scroll down.

so in a city the size of new york, with all those witnesses, an event that can be classified as a hate crime, involving corrupt police, is only reported in one special interest newspaper?

being beaten by a lead pipe would send the person to the hospital... funny that while it involves the police and trip to the hospital, it was only reported in one special interest publication.

and all she's asking is for her complaint to be registered? if someone beat another person with a lead pipe, it usually ends up with charges being pressed, and a lawsuit for the company/cops and others involved.

I still say there's more to this that what is being 'Blogged"

Thank you greatly for the source Soheran and for summing up with a single question how mistaken it is to assume that the media is somehow part of the checks-and-balances on government and is somehow a whiter-than-white bastion of the individual.

To think that any individual could face such adversity when simply attempting to be who they feel they should be is abhorrent. As a firm believer in individual sovereignty I hope that the bar steward who violated this woman is hit with the full force of the law.

I still say there's more to this that what is being 'Blogged"

Feel free to ring the numbers provided in the article to see if the story is true if you doubt it. :) Once a source is provided I shalln't simply disregard it because it conflicts with my beliefs or what my mind deems plausible. I try to find evidence to the contrary and if none exists then I'll defer to the source... when/if more information becomes available I change my mind rationally.

And transgender abuse is regularly reported in the mainstream news?

violent crimes usually are.

heck, the story about the boy not being allowed to wear a dress to his prom made national news...

We're talking three months ago, supposedly.

Why would this number of months matter?

Feel free to ring the numbers provided in the article to see if the story is true if you doubt it. :) Once a source is provided I shalln't simply disregard it because it conflicts with my beliefs or what my mind deems plausible. I try to find evidence to the contrary and if none exists then I'll defer to the source... when/if more information becomes available I change my mind rationally.
Neither do I. however, I won't believe anything just becuase it was blogged or some small paper publishes it. especially a crime of this nature.

that's like saying the National Enquirer and THE SUN are valid and trustworthy news sources.

again, there are too many Inconsistancies with the story that makes it ring true.

and the actions against the person is such that why is the lawer only insisting on filing a complaint... such a beating is a felony and the manger should be arrested! no mention of the person's Insulin that was left in the restroom, Such manhandling of this by the police would be a juicy piece of news for the larger newspapers... yet why wasn't it reported?

so in a city the size of new york, with all those witnesses, an event that can be classified as a hate crime, involving corrupt police, is only reported in one special interest newspaper?

being beaten by a lead pipe would send the person to the hospital... funny that while it involves the police and trip to the hospital, it was only reported in one special interest publication.

and all she's asking is for her complaint to be registered? if someone beat another person with a lead pipe, it usually ends up with charges being pressed, and a lawsuit for the company/cops and others involved.

I still say there's more to this that what is being 'Blogged"

Where do you get lead pipes nowadays anyway? Haven't lead water pipes been replaced with copper or PVC?

Where do you get lead pipes nowadays anyway? Haven't lead water pipes been replaced with copper or PVC?

I can see lead pipes still being used for wiring work. or perhaps the person only thought it was lead... but considering that the police arrested her, and no mention of any severe damage, It probably wasn't a lead pipe.

Where do you get lead pipes nowadays anyway? Haven't lead water pipes been replaced with copper or PVC?

Though PVC would in fact hurt very, very much... it just doesn't have the same ring to it as a lead pipe.

Though PVC would in fact hurt very, very much... it just doesn't have the same ring to it as a lead pipe.

Yeah, beating someone with a PVC pipe doesn't have that je ne sais quais that a lead pipe has.

Yeah, beating someone with a PVC pipe doesn't have that je ne sais quais that a lead pipe has.
which makes me wonder what else was altered to make it "sound better"

which makes me wonder what else was altered to make it "sound better"

The manager of the McDonalds was also a highly intelligent and prejudiced monkeyboy from another planet. It sounds better to just leave it at, "the manager of the McDonalds".

Why would this number of months matter?

It was suggested that stories like this take a few days or weeks to hit the news.

Given that in NY transgendered people are not exactly a novelty, and there HAVE been stories about gays and transgendered persons being assaulted in the news, I am mystified as to why such a spectacular story, with such an enormous name as McDonald's attached to it, has not been trumpeted nationally.

It was suggested that stories like this take a few days or weeks to hit the news.

Given that in NY transgendered people are not exactly a novelty, and there HAVE been stories about gays and transgendered persons being assaulted in the news, I am mystified as to why such a spectacular story, with such an enormous name as McDonald's attached to it, has not been trumpeted nationally.

Ah. I thought you were saying that because this took place three months ago, it's not worthy of being considered news.

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_540/newsbriefs.html

Scroll down.

So, it IS true!