A transgender woman was violently slammed to the ground by an Austin police officer earlier this month in a moment caught on both bodycam and bystander video. The disturbing incident, which occurred in Austin’s bustling downtown entertainment district in the early hours of March 2, has now ignited a storm of controversy across Texas and beyond.
The woman, wearing a black dress, was reportedly involved in a confrontation with two men. Bodycam footage released by the police shows her striking one of the men before officers blew their whistles and declared the situation an arrest. When she didn’t immediately comply, an officer grabbed her wrist and spun her around—causing her to fall, face-first, onto the pavement. Blood is visible almost instantly in the video, and the woman can be heard saying, “F**k, I’m under arrest?”
Another video, taken by a bystander and posted online, captures the moment even more clearly: the officer hurls her down with force that’s hard to unsee. The footage also shows the aftermath—officers escorting her away in cuffs, stating that she would be seen by medical personnel. Police said she was treated at the scene and arrested for disorderly conduct, claiming the use of force was within department policy. Apparently, cracking a skull is just business as usual in Austin these days.
Officials React — But Is It Enough?
City Council members José Velásquez, Mike Siegel, and Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes issued a statement calling the incident “upsetting” and promised a full investigation. Council Member Zo Qadri, whose district includes the location of the arrest, acknowledged receiving a flood of messages from constituents, many of them concerned about the safety of the city’s LGBTQ community.
Qadri didn’t mince words, saying Austin must remain a “safe haven for all.” The comment nods to another recent, troubling episode at a local queer bar. The message is clear: it’s not just about one arrest. It’s about a pattern.
And the numbers back it up. A study from the Williams Institute shows transgender individuals are over four times as likely to be victims of violent crime compared to their cisgender counterparts. The fear is real. The trauma is constant. And still, law enforcement fails to show the restraint and respect these citizens deserve.
A Pattern of Violence Against the Trans Community
This case adds to the growing list of reported violence against trans people in public spaces—train stations, high schools, nightclubs—and now, the streets of one of Texas’ most liberal cities. For a community already battling a wave of anti-trans legislation and cultural hostility, watching yet another trans person face police violence is more than infuriating—it’s retraumatizing.
When institutions that should protect us turn their power into a weapon, it sends a chilling message. “We are not safe,” say many advocates. And in Texas, that message seems to get louder each week.
The Austin Police Department and its officers have so far remained silent, likely hoping the storm will pass. But the LGBTQ community isn’t done talking—not when blood stains the sidewalk and silence speaks volumes. It’s not just about one trans woman slammed to the ground. It’s about every queer person wondering, “Am I next?”