A transgender woman was physically assaulted by a bouncer outside Billy Jack's Shack in Charlotte, North Carolina. The assault, which was captured on Matusik's Meta Smart Glasses, has left her with a horrific black eye and has been labeled as a potential hate crime.
Matusik had been out with friends on a Friday night and decided to end the evening at Billy Jack's Shack, a popular restaurant and bar in Charlotte. However, her night took a horrifying turn when she was confronted by a bouncer at the establishment, as per Mail Online.
Trans Woman's Bouncer Assault
According to Matusik, the incident began when she refused to show her identification to the bouncer. The Meta Glasses she was wearing at the time recorded the entire altercation from her perspective, providing crucial evidence of what transpired.
The video footage shows Matusik at the bar, innocently asking for a menu when the bouncer suddenly approaches her from behind. In a matter of moments, the situation escalates as the bouncer grabs her arm, body-slams her, and proceeds to choke her while demanding her ID.
Throughout the altercation, Matusik repeatedly mentions that she is recording the incident. The bouncer's response is chilling: "I don't care."
Matusik pleads, "Why are you choking me?" but receives no satisfactory answer. The situation deteriorates further as the bouncer uses homophobic slurs.
Matusik described how she was dragged into the street, punched, and kicked by the bouncer, causing her significant physical injuries, including a brutal black eye. She was subsequently taken to the hospital, according to Yahoo News.
North Carolina Transgender Assault Raises Concerns
The shocking video evidence contradicts the values that Billy Jack's Shack claims to stand for. The bar took to Facebook to announce that it has terminated its association with the third-party security company responsible for the incident.
Despite the compelling video evidence, both the security company and the security guard involved have remained silent on the matter. There is currently no indication of whether a hate crime investigation is being conducted into the occurrence.
The security company, Gridiron Protection Services, was reportedly not licensed to provide security services, according to the Charlotte Observer. Such unlicensed practices are unfortunately common in the state of North Carolina.
Lynette Matusik is adamant that the case be investigated as a hate crime and has expressed her hope that shedding light on the incident will lead to a broader discussion on safety and security measures. She vehemently denies the accusation that she bit the security guard and insists that it is a baseless fabrication.
For now, Matusik faces a simple assault charge in connection with the incident. However, the shocking video evidence captured by her Meta Glasses has brought the incident into the public eye, sparking discussions on the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of individuals, especially in situations involving potential hate crimes, WSOC TV reported.
