Police are investigating a possible hate crime after at least two LGBTQ+ women, including a lesbian and trans woman, were beaten by a group of men in Miami, Florida.
A video of the incident, which took place in Miami’s Wynwood neighbourhood, shows multiple men attacking the group. The victims can be heard pleading with their attackers to stop and saying that they’ve already called the police.
“This group of guys, basically, they just started screaming stuff at us, anti-lesbian comments, like, ‘You’re only lesbians because you haven’t received actual,’ and he used a profanity word,” said one of the victims, who revealed she was punched in the face three times and may need surgery as a result.
One of the other victims, who asked that her name not be published, said she was beaten until she lost consciousness.
“I definitely felt targeted for sure; I mean they were definitely trying to hate on the fact that we were gay,” she said in a video interview. “I don’t understand to this day why.”
“We are actively working on the case. Like any investigation, we have to dot the I’s and cross the T’s,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. “We are working with our LGBTQ+ liaison and [State Attorney’s Office] hate crime task force. We have to make sure we have everything lined up before we initiate our arrest(s).”
The spokesperson also confirmed that no arrests have been made.
“It’s very concerning to see that they are still out and about and free and nothing has happened to them yet,” the woman who said she was beaten unconscious added.
