Activists stand up for transgender Hopkins student after alleged attack

On Wednesday, students and LGBTQ activists gathered outside Hopkins High School to demand justice and accountability for the alleged attack on a transgender student outside a school restroom last week.

Minnetonka police are investigating the incident as a “possible hate crime,” city officials said in a statement.

The victim’s brother told reporters after lawyers sharply criticized the school district that his sister was “slapped from behind” by a classmate who used a homophobic slur.

The 17-year-old junior suffered a broken jaw and needed dental surgery, the brother said.

Hannah Edwards, director of Transforming Families Minnesota, one of the event organizers, told the crowd that the school did not call an ambulance or file a police report that day and that the school community was not informed of the incident until after the rally was announced on Tuesday.

“Our transgender youth have a right to protection,” Edwards said. “They have a right to love, safety and equal learning opportunities in public schools.”

Happy, passionate songs blared from a loudspeaker, and adults in attendance cheered as dozens of students from the high school and a nearby middle school walked toward the rally.

The Hopkins School District released a statement Wednesday that its administration and the Minnetonka Police Department were “investigating an act of violence that occurred last Thursday involving a student who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.”

District officials declined to comment further on the incidents until the investigation was completed, but stressed that the schools care about diversity and inclusion.

“We will address any issues that threaten the safety and inclusivity of our school environment,” the statement said. “We support and stand with any group that is marginalized, including our LGBTQ+ teachers and staff.”

In its statement, the city said it received a 911 call about the incident on the day of the alleged assault. An attached transcript shows the call came from a family member. Police have no record of the school district filing a report, Andrew Wittenborg, a Minnetonka spokesman, said Wednesday.

“Details are not yet known as the case was not reported to police until after school ended,” the city’s statement said. “The case is ongoing and further information is not yet available.”

Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, the first openly transgender member of the Legislature, said she often gets calls about transgender students being beaten. In this case, the victim’s family wanted to go public to demand action and accountability, she said.

“This is a family that wants to use trauma for good.”

Since Tuesday afternoon, Finke said, she has been on the phone with local authorities, but it seemed as if no one wanted to say or do anything.

“Take this seriously,” Finke said of the rally’s goal. “It’s a problem in our community. It happens frequently.”

Edwards pledged his support to the victim, saying at the rally: “You deserve safety. You deserve dignity and a life full of opportunity. You are beautiful just the way you are… We want you to know that we are here, we are watching you, and we can help you do better so that this never happens again.”