Bomb in Target Bathroom May Be Tied to Transgender Issue

Officials were investigating whether the explosion of a small bomb planted in the women's restroom at a Chicago-area Target store on Wednesday was connected to the company’s open transgender bathroom policy, reported WGN-TV in Chicago 

Evanston police said they haven't ruled out that the explosive device was connected to Target's stand on allowing "transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity,” said WGN. More than a million people reportedly are boycotting Target as a result.

The bombing took place on the same day Target shareholders gathered for their annual meeting in California, where a representative of the National Center for Public Policy Research challenged Target executives on the trans-inclusive policy, but they stood by it and said it has not affected sales, reported the Advocate. 

The American Family Association posted this on its Facebook page yesterday:



The Chicago Tribune said police requested assistance from the Cook County bomb squad after receiving a call shortly after 4 p.m. from the Target store at 2209 Howard St. reporting an explosion. 

The restroom was located toward the front of the store and the damage was limited to a stall in the women's restroom, police said in a news release. The source of the explosion may have been a plastic bottle which investigators said they found in the stall. No projectiles like nails or tacks were inside it.

There were no injuries, police said, and the store remained open afterwards.

No threats were reported before the incident, said Evanston Police Commander Joseph Dugan. He said investigators were gathering evidence, including examining store security camera video.

Related Stories:

• California Right-to-Die Law Kicks in With 4 Terminal Cases
  
• Washington National Cathedral to Remove Confederate Flags From Stained Glass Windows