The story of a brutal attack on Renee Polis is all over the news along with a video that went viral, showing the hate crime in action. I couldn't even finish watching the video that was filmed by an employee at the McDonald's where the attack took place. The video shows Renee, a transgender woman, being repeatedly kicked and punched supposedly because she was going to use the women's restroom.

It's heart wrenching to hear about stories like this of humans being so full of anger, hate and judgment. I find the whole idea of hating someone for being transgender or gay an example of the lowest form of human and one that brings a dark cloud over all of humanity. The people who did nothing to intervene share in the darkness and the crime, while people like Vicky Thoms, a true hero in my mind, because she tried to defend Renee against her attackers, shines a bright light of hope. Huge kudos to Vicky Thoms. I would like to shake her hand and offer my thanks for standing up against the ignorant thugs. 

Community rallies around victim of McDonald’s attack
By Baltimore Sun

The family of a transgender woman who was attacked in a Baltimore County McDonald's last week thanked the woman who stepped in and tried to help, as more than a hundred supporters gathered at the Rosedale restaurant Monday night. The rally drew together representatives of transgender, civil-rights and faith-based communities in a call to action to stop violence against all people.

"I'll never forget you for this," Renee Polis told Vicky Thoms, who was hit in the face as she stepped between Chrissy Polis and the two teens who were caught on video punching and kicking Polis, and dragging her by her hair until Polis appears to have a seizure. READ THE FULL STORY