Times are becoming increasingly dangerous for marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ and trans people. A recent incident in Austin, Texas, has once again reminded the public of how quickly casual harassment can escalate into brutal violence. According to a post shared by a Reddit user on r/Austin, a violent hate crime took place on Saturday afternoon at the Barton Springs spillway, which is known locally as the dog beach. A group of friends, including a trans woman, was targeted and attacked. A bystander who stepped in to help was left seriously injured, suffering a broken jaw and trauma to the head.
The transphobic attack reportedly began when two women were relaxing by the water and were persistently harassed by three men. Things took a darker turn when their friend, a trans woman, joined them. The men’s behavior became immediately more aggressive and openly transphobic. They began verbally assaulting the women, accusing all of them of being trans, poking at their chests in a dehumanizing manner, and then physically escalating the confrontation by shoving them.
Witnesses say that when a Good Samaritan saw what was happening and tried to step in, he was met with shocking violence. He was hit in the head with a rock and had his jaw broken in the assault. The victim, who is reportedly a construction worker and father, now faces surgery and several weeks of missed work. He does not have health insurance.
After the assault, the three suspects tried to flee. One of the women followed them up the stairs toward the Zilker Park parking lot to try to capture their license plate information. In response, one of the men, described as wearing orange shorts, allegedly picked her up and slammed her to the ground. The other suspects include a man with long dark hair in green shorts and a Hispanic man wearing a cowboy hat. All three are still at large. A police report has been filed with the Austin Police Department, but as of now, a detective has not yet been assigned to the case.
The Reddit user, Fish_Able, is now asking the r/Austin community to help identify the attackers. Screenshots and video footage from the incident have been uploaded online in hopes that someone will recognize the assailants.
Reddit users were quick to condemn the violent hate crime against the trans woman, expressing outrage and heartbreak over the incident. One user wrote, “Good lord. Hope these pieces of sh** end up in prison.” Some encouraged others to contribute to the GoFundMe set up for the Good Samaritan, who now faces costly medical bills and lost wages. Others pointed out that the attackers may not be Austin locals, urging people across Texas to stay alert and help identify the suspects.
