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Police deny Target bombing was a hate crime, internet isn’t buying it

'At this point it does not appear to be related to the bathroom policy issues,' said police.

 

Lyz Lenz

IRL

Posted on Jun 10, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 3:27 pm CDT

Since announcing in April that trans customers are welcome to use its restrooms, Target has become ground zero in the battle for trans rights. So when police arrested a woman in connection with a bombing in the bathroom of an Evanston, Illinois, store on Wednesday, people questioned whether it was a hate crime.

No one was hurt in the bombing, and the store stayed open through out the attack. According to the Chicago Tribune, detectives took a 44-year-old woman into custody yesterday for questioning, but so far no charges have been filed. “At this point it does not appear to be related to the bathroom policy issues,” Evanston Police Commander Joseph Dugan told CBS News

Police also revealed that the bomb was most likely a plastic bottle, but contained no projectiles. 

Regardless of the police statement, people immediately took to social media to make the connection between the bomber’s actions and terrorism.

Even those who don’t support Target’s bathroom policy criticized the attack.

https://twitter.com/DrMichaelLBrown/status/741106745674731520

This isn’t the first time a Illinois Target store has come under fire. In early May, Michael Merichko was arrested after going on an anti-trans rant inside a Target store in Bradley. And Target stores across the country have been facing a series of boycotts, threats, and protests from anti-trans rights groups.

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*First Published: Jun 10, 2016, 12:30 pm CDT