1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

A transgender woman was physically assaulted at a public venue — her skirt and underwear yanked down in front of children — and the attacker walked away with four misdemeanors. That is not justice. The victim told police she believes she was targeted because she is transgender. This should be prosecuted as a hate crime, and I want you to push for that outcome. Transgender people have lived peacefully in our communities for decades without incident. It's people obsessed with policing their bodies who are causing harm. Misdemeanor charges for a targeted, sexually humiliating attack send the message that this kind of violence is acceptable. It is not. Where state hate crime laws exist, they must be enforced. Where they fall short, you have the power to strengthen them. Do it.