Two women have been arrested and charged with assault of a transgender woman in the bathroom of a popular Raleigh, N.C., bar.
The woman entered the women’s bathroom at Milk Bar on Dec. 9 when the two suspects allegedly followed her in and locked the door, WRAL news reported on Tuesday.
{mosads}Amber Harrell, 38, and Jessica Fowler, 31 allegedly verbally abused the woman, exposed themselves and groped her.
The assault reportedly continued after the woman was able to escape the bathroom.
“One of the girls is still touching all over me. She would not let go. I asked her numerous times. (The bartender) could see I was visibly uncomfortable,” the alleged victim told a 911 dispatcher in a call the day after the incident.
According to witnesses, it was clear the woman was targeted because she was transgender, WRAL reports.
The bartender did intervene and tell the women to stop, WRAL reported.
Harrell was arrested over the weekend and Fowler turned herself over to authorities on Tuesday afternoon.
Both women were charged with second-degree kidnapping and sexual battery in connection with the incident, the news station reported. If convicted, they would be required to register as sex offenders.
North Carolina made headlines in 2016 when it passed a law requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms that align with the gender on their birth certificate.
The controversial so-called “Bathroom Bill” was rolled back after a number of lawsuits were filed against the state for discrimination.