Two men face charges after police say they beat a transgender woman at a light rail station in Minneapolis.
It happened Monday at the Lake Street station.
According to investigators, the two men, 19-year-old Keaten Morris and 23-year-old Kevin York, Jr. beat and robbed a transgender woman but officers were able to quickly locate and arrest the men.
The woman went to the hospital with critical injuries, including head injuries.
Morris and York are charged with first-degree aggravated robbery.
In a statement on social media, OutFront Minnesota representatives wrote that while a motive isn't 100% clear, the organization realizes transgender people--particularly women of color--face an increased risk of violence.
On Wednesday, members of the Minnesota House and Senate Queer Caucus issued the following statement:
“We are devastated by the recent attack on one of our community members. We stand in solidarity with her, and our thoughts are with her as she heals from this atrocious experience. We cannot tolerate this or any other act of violence against transgender women, who disproportionately experience violence and discrimination from individuals and on a structural level. We take this incident seriously and are working to implement laws that will protect, affirm, and uplift our queer and trans communities.”