Trans women attacked in Palermo; politicians blame Milei hate speech

A group of young cyclists carried out a coordinated attack against several trans women in the Bosques de Palermo in Buenos Aires. The assailants filmed themselves throwing sticks, stones, traffic cones and other blunt objects at the victims.

The attack began when the cyclists passed the women on their bikes and started hitting them with sticks. Some victims were also injured while trying to escape the scene near Los Ombúes and Andrés Bello avenues.

“Hate speeches only generate more hate.”

The Buenos Aires City LGBT Ombudsman confirmed it is working on a criminal complaint against those involved. At least six victims presented injuries, and one of them lost an ear.

Political figures attributed the assault to hate speech linked to President Javier Milei and libertarian militancy. Former Buenos Aires City Chief of Government Horacio Rodríguez Larreta directly pointed to Milei, sharing a fragment of his January 2025 Davos speech on social media.

Left-wing deputy Myriam Bregman said the attack, occurring days before the Pride march, deserved total repudiation. Socialist deputy Esteban Paulón stated that young people aged between 16 and 20 felt they could attack both online and in real life.

The episode took place months after the murders of two trans women in Santa Fe and Córdoba on August 13. One aggressor later posted on Instagram mocking the outrage, writing that people now call him a trans killer.