Hundreds turnout to protest McDonald's beating

ROSEDALE, Md. - The punching and kicking of a transgender woman one week ago inside a Rosedale McDonald's bathroom led to hundreds of people standing in protest.

They packed the parking lot where 22-year-old Chrissy Polis suffered a brutal beating.

"You know I'm really upset to watch my daughter being beaten in front of me, and there's nothing I could have done about it," said Renee Polis, Chrissy’s mom.

Vicky Thoms was the only person to spring into action. At the rally, she met the victim's family.

"I felt like the public person who was there was human and they were trying to kill her and that something should have been done. They stood around watching, big strong men. And nobody would help her," said Thoms.

Thoms, 55, was injured. She's doing okay now, but mentally the incident hasn't left her. Several transgender organizations hope to use the public beating as a way to draw attention to what they call an ongoing problem

The Polis beating was caught on tape, but Sandy Rawls with Trans-United says a brutal attack in Baltimore back in January went unnoticed.

"A transgender woman was chased down on St. Paul St., and they pulled her clothes off and tried to cut her genitalia off. They said quote "if you want to be a woman, we'll make you a woman," said Rawls.

The employee behind the video camera at McDonald's was fired. The 14-year-old is charged as a juvenile.

Teonna Brown, 18, is charged with first and second degree assault. The judge denied her any chance of posting bond, and the state's attorney's office may add a charge of hate crime.

Sean Murphy and his wife have no connection to the transgender community, but they couldn't stay home tonight.

"We don't know Chrissy, but we're here because this shouldn't be allowed to happen," said Murphy.

Another person dropped off $20 for Chrissy Polis. Her twin brother had a chance to meet Vicky Thoms.

"Thank you so much. I wasn't there. And that really got me upset. But at least there's some good people out there. I think you're a hero," said Matthew Polis.

The transgender community plans on giving Vicky Thoms an award.

Chrissy Polis decided to stay home. She didn't want to return to the site where the beating happened.
Beating suspect previously charged in other attack at same Rosedale McDonald's http://t.co/TaB49es