MINNETONKA, Minn. — As Minnetonka police continue their investigation into whether an alleged attack on a transgender student at Hopkins High School last week was committed as a hate crime, fellow students and community members quickly rallied in support of the victim.
"Gathering here today shows those who want to make us fear, and to go back into the closet and go back into invisibility, it shows them that we are not going anywhere," said Jae, an alumni of Hopkins, who said he was the first openly transgender student to attend the school. "It is abhorrent that it cannot be a universal value that no child should fear having their jaw broken at school simply for expressing themselves and living their full truth in their community that they grew up in."
He went on to say his experience was different 10 years ago, adding it was hard to imagine he'd be back at his alma mater condemning a physical attack on a transgender student.
"We are at the peak of mass transphobia in this country and its really scary to think as a pastor of gender-expansive kids in the Twin Cities, that they are less safe now than I was over a decade ago," he said.
Hannah Edwards, director of Transforming Families Minnesota, also spoke from the rally, saying the victim's family reached out to her following the assault. Edwards told the crowd she learned the student's injuries were so severe, she had to be hospitalized.
"Their trans student, a student here at Hopkins High School, was violently attacked after leaving a restroom," she said. "The student was injured so severely, that she required surgery and hospitalization to repair breaks in her jaw and teeth."
Edwards went on to criticize the school's alleged handling of the incident, claiming the district neglected to take action.
"When a trans student was assaulted and injured because of her identity, the school failed to call an ambulance and they failed to file a police report to document a hate crime," she said, adding, "Hopkins High School did not even acknowledge to their community that this violent incident occurred until this rally was publicly posted yesterday afternoon."
On Tuesday, Principal Crystal Ballard issued a statement to school families about the attack and subsequent investigation, calling the assault "upsetting."
"We want to let you know that HHS administration, District leaders, and the Minnetonka Police Department are investigating an act of violence that occurred last Thursday and involved a student who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. While we are aware that allegations of a hate crime have surfaced regarding this incident, it’s important to know that the incident has not been officially deemed a hate crime as the details are still being investigated," the statement read, in part.
"... Regardless of the facts of this particular case, we know that even hearing a rumor that an act of violence has occurred to a member of a certain group - in this case, our LGBTQ+ community - is upsetting and can be traumatizing. Hopkins Public Schools works very intentionally to create safe places for LGBTQ+ families, staff and scholars."
Minnetonka police have so far confirmed a "call for service" was made on May 30 around 3 p.m., but further details remained scarce as of Wednesday afternoon.
On Tuesday night, a City of Minnetonka spokesperson told KARE 11 that the case was reported to police "hours after the assault was said to have taken place," leaving them with limited information to release to the public.
Democratic State Rep. Leigh Finke, Minnesota's first openly transgender lawmaker, was also in attendance Wednesday.
"This is what happens when trans people are attacked," she said. "In Minnesota, people show up, people show out. They let the state, they let our schools, they let our institutions know that protecting trans people is a core value to the communities of Minnesota, so as long as this is happening, we’re going to show up."
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