Latest news with #KadyGrass
Winnipeg Free Press
30-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Pride is not just a parade — it's a fight for survival
Opinion This weekend, when you think of Pride, spare a moment to think about Kady Grass. Just two weeks ago, the 19-year-old was beaten severely by five men as she left the bathroom of a McDonald's restaurant in a suburb outside Chicago with her 13-year-old niece. Witnesses and closed-circuit video cameras confirmed that the attackers used homophobic taunts and insults right before the attack. Grass was beaten unconscious and suffered a broken nose. Two of the men who attacked her — one 19, one 16 — have been charged with a variety of offences including one count of perpetrating a hate crime. Mike Sudoma / Free Press files Violent hate crimes and the legal persecution of LGBTTQ+ people is a growing, global phenomenon. 'They attacked me because I like women,' Grass said in a social media post. 'All I did was exist that day. I went to go spend time with my family, and then, I was brutally attacked. There was nothing I did to deserve that.' The key statement is Grass' acknowledgement that she was attacked simply because she existed. That is something we all need to keep in mind as we enter the final weekend of Pride festivities here in Manitoba because, in case you hadn't heard, the very existence of LGBTTQ+ people here, across Canada, all over North America and across the world is under attack. In 2023, even as the incidence of overall violent crime was going down, Statistics Canada reported that hate crimes against LGBTTQ+ people had gone up 70 per cent. It's not just a blip; since 2016, hate crimes targeting sexual orientation have gone up by nearly 400 per cent. In the United States, the situation is similar in some ways, worse in others. The 2023 National Crime Victimization Survey found that LGBTTQ+ people were five times more likely to be a victim of violence than non-LGBTTQ+ people, and nine times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime. It's also not just a North American phenomenon. Violent hate crimes and the legal persecution of LGBTTQ+ people is a growing, global phenomenon. Just about every entity that tracks these incidents believes only half of all attacks are reported to authorities. Human Dignity Trust, a U.K.-based organization that advocates for legal protections for LGBTTQ+ all over the world, said 65 countries consider same-sex relationships to be illegal, 12 of those countries allow the death penalty as the maximum sentence. Of those that consider it illegal, 41 countries have criminalized 'private, consensual sexual activity between women.' Why the spike in hate and violence directed at LGBTTQ+ people? It's complicated but not impossible to discern. Compassion and empathy have been in short supply since the worst, early days of the pandemic. That, in turn, has helped ignite a global rise in far-right populism which holds, as one of its core principles, the desire to suppress, possibly erase, the existence of LGBTTQ+ people. It's not bleak everywhere in the world. In fact, while attacks on LGBTTQ+ people are escalating in Canada, this country can still claim a place on the forefront of this critical human rights issue. It's visible in gestures such as Manitoba's NDP government holding what very well could be the first Pride drag show inside a provincial legislative building. Two notable local drag queens performed in the rotunda outside the legislative chamber to a raucous crowd of Pride supporters. 'This is the people's building,' Premier Wab Kinew told those in attendance. 'I hope you always feel welcome here.' Tributes should also be extended to Canada's federal government. Love in a Dangerous Time, a poignant exhibit about the threats faced by Canada's LGBTTQ+ community that was created for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg was transported to Canada's breathtaking embassy in Washington, D.C. Taking this exhibit to Washington — ground zero in an aggressive anti-LGBTTQ+ campaign by the Trump administration — is a pretty courageous act by Ottawa. The exhibit will be in the embassy, which has a panoramic view of the U.S. Capitol buildings, until August 29. In a more perfect world, gestures such as this would not necessarily be required. But in this day and age, Pride celebrations are still essential largely because the world has become a harder and more dangerous place for LGBTTQ+ people. It would be easy to see Pride just as another cultural event, disconnected from any serious societal issues. In reality, the origins of 'Pride' can be found in violent attacks and persecution on the LGBTTQ+ community in the U.S. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Pride has always been framed as a celebration, and with good reason. But in its earliest days, it was a courageous act of defiance against the legal and political systems that endorsed unmitigated violence and persecution. So, this weekend, it would be a great gesture if we all paid tribute to the origins of Pride, while keeping in mind the reason it exists. Most non-LGBTTQ+ people, when they hear the term 'Pride,' will almost automatically think 'parade.' When you hear the word 'Pride' this year, think 'survival.' Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man faces hate crime charge after woman attacked at Carpentersville McDonald's
KANE COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — An Elgin man faces felony hate crime and four other felonies in connection with a beating attack at a Carpentersville McDonald's restaurant earlier this month. Authorities allege John Kammrad, 19, and a juvenile boy made derogatory remarks about a woman's sexual orientation during a May 13 incident that left the woman, Kady Grass, with multiple injuries. Grass took to GoFundMe and posted pictures of her injuries. 'These allegations are serious and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' Kane County State's Attorney Jamie L. Mosser said in a statement announcing the felony charges. 'Everyone deserves to feel safe in public spaces, and no one should be attacked because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, as is alleged in this case.' In addition to the felony hate crime charge, Kammrad was indicted with mob action and three felony counts of aggravated battery. He remains in the Kane County Jail for separate, unrelated charges, the release from Mosser and Carpentersville Chief of Police Todd Shaver said. His next court appearance was scheduled for June 27. The juvenile, a 16-year-old, who was allegedly involved in the attack was also charged with a hate crime in addition to mob action and aggravated battery charges. His name was not released in accordance with state laws protecting the privacy of minors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Pair charged with hate crime in attack on lesbian at McDonald's in Carpentersville, Illinois
A man and a 16-year-old boy have been indicted on hate crime charges, accused of attacking a woman at a McDonald's in Carpentersville, Illinois, because she is a lesbian. John Kammrad, 19, has been charged with three counts of aggravated battery, one count of hate crime, and one count of mob action, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's office. A 16-year-old boy also has been charged with hate crime, mob action, and aggravated battery. His name was not released because he is a juvenile. Kady Grass, who is from Carpentersville but now lives in Wisconsin, has said she was visiting the McDonald's at 1660 S. Kennedy Dr. in Carpentersville with her 13-year-old cousin on May 13, after the teen's choir concert. She said a group of strangers started harassing her as she left the restroom — using anti-gay slurs toward her. When she walked away, she said they followed. "I just told my cousin to look forward. 'Don't say anything. Don't give them a reason to talk to us again,'" said Grass. Grass acknowledges she then told the strangers she is a lesbian and flicked her wrist at them. Police said witnesses and surveillance video show two people attacked her. Prosecutors said Kammrad and a 16-year-old accomplice beat Grass and kicked her in the head. Grass was left with a fractured nose, a hemorrhage on her eye, and PTSD after the attack. "I genuinely think that their plan was to kill me, and that they didn't care if they ended my life that day," Grass said. Kammrad originally was charged only with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of mob action when he was arrested last week, but Grass had called for hate crime charges to be added. "How it started was because I'm a lesbian — just because I walked into the woman's bathroom, and I looked the way I look," Grass said. Last week, Kane County prosecutors confirmed they were still weighing possible hate crime charges. "Like all cases we handle, my office filed these charges following a thorough investigation and an unbiased review of the facts. These allegations are serious and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement on Tuesday. "Everyone deserves to feel safe in public spaces, and no one should be attacked because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, as is alleged in this case. We must make it clear that Kane County is a community that welcomes all." Kammrad is being held at the DuPage County Jail on separate charges in DuPage County, and is due back in court in Kane County on June 27. The video above is from an earlier report.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois prosecutors eye possible hate crime charges after woman attacked at Chicago-area McDonald's
The Brief Charges filed: John Z. Kammrad, 19, of Elgin, has been charged with aggravated battery and mob action after a fight at a Carpentersville McDonald's that left a woman seriously injured; a juvenile suspect is also charged. Incident details: Police say the suspects made anti-LGBTQ+ remarks toward the woman, identified as Kady Grass, before a confrontation escalated into violence on May 13. Possible hate crime: Kane County prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine if additional charges, including a hate crime, are warranted; the investigation is ongoing. CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. - A 19-year-old man and juvenile have been charged—and may face hate crime counts—after a woman was seriously injured in an alleged anti-LGBTQ+ attack at a McDonald's in Carpentersville, authorities said. What we know John Z. Kammrad is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of mob action, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. A second suspect, a juvenile, who has not been identified, is also facing charges related to the incident. Kammrad was arrested on May 17. The juvenile turned himself in a day earlier, on May 16. The backstory The altercation occurred on Tuesday, May 13, at the McDonald's located at 1660 South Kennedy Drive. Carpentersville police said the two suspects made derogatory comments about the woman's sexual orientation as they passed her, sparking a confrontation that escalated into a physical fight. The woman, identified in a GoFundMe as Kady Grass, sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital. What they're saying Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement her office is reviewing the case to determine whether additional charges, including a hate crime, are warranted. "I want to assure the public that my office is conducting a thorough and unbiased review of this case to determine if adding additional charges such as Hate Crime is appropriate. The Carpentersville Police Department is continuing its investigation, and we are actively reviewing all evidence to determine whether additional charges are warranted. I have been in direct contact with the police department and my office has been in contact with the victim. I am committed to pursuing justice based on the full facts of the case. "The allegations involved here are deeply disturbing. My thoughts are with Kady Grass and her family, and I want her to know we will do everything within the law to hold those responsible accountable. Kane County is a welcoming community, and there is no place in a civilized society for the alleged behavior in this case." The investigation remains ongoing.
