A transgender woman made her first public comments Saturday, a week after she was attacked by a large group in east Oak Cliff.

Edward Dominic Thomas was arrested days after the attack on a transgender woman in east Oak Cliff. (Dallas County Sheriff's Department)

In a rally and news conference, 23-year-old Muhlaysia Booker thanked a crowd in South Dallas for supporting her after the April 12 attack that Mayor Mike Rawlings condemned as "mob violence."

"This time, I can stand before you, where in other scenarios, we're at a memorial," Booker told the crowd.

Booker was assaulted after a traffic accident at the Royal Crest Apartments. Video of the incident showed a large group of bystanders form around the altercation. A man was seen on camera punching Booker multiple times as others joined in the attack.

Police said 29-year-old Edward Thomas was one of the attackers caught on camera. He was charged with aggravated assault a few days after the incident, and police are determining whether the assault meets the criteria of a hate crime.

For those in attendance at Saturday's rally, it was clear the attack was just that.

"If this is charged as anything less than, then that is an injustice," said Mieko Hicks, a transgender activist who spoke at the rally. "Until all black lives matter, none do."

The rally was organized by Abounding Prosperity Inc., a Dallas organization that supports the city's black LGBTQ community. Speakers called on the entire black community to support LGBTQ issues. Hicks said the behavior that leads to attacks on transgender people is often normalized by the attitudes of prominent people.

"I challenge black leaders, pastors, people with big platforms to leave anti-LGBT rhetoric out of your speech," Hicks said. "You're being divisive."

1 / 4Muhlaysia Booker speaks during a rally on Saturday in South Dallas.(Ryan Michalesko / Staff Photographer) 2 / 4"This time, I can stand before you, where in other scenarios, we're at a memorial," Muhlaysia Booker told the crowd Saturday.(Ryan Michalesko / Staff Photographer) 3 / 4A supporter hugs Muhlaysia Booker after she spoke at Saturday's rally.(Ryan Michalesko / Staff Photographer) 4 / 4Muhlaysia Booker declined to take questions after her remarks, citing the ongoing investigation.(Ryan Michalesko / Staff Photographer)

The assault on Booker was quickly condemned by the city's leadership, and police said earlier in the week the department has contacted the FBI to assist in the investigation.

"Those who did this do not represent how Dallasites feel about our thriving LGBTQ community. We will not stand for this kind of behavior," Rawlings said in a written statement the day after the beating.

Maj. Elaine Paige of the Dallas Police Department attended Saturday's rally to provide support for Booker. She called on residents to protect each other and expressed disgust at the number of bystanders who watched as Booker was attacked.

"When you have people that are standing around watching things like this happen, there's no good that comes of it," she said.

Booker declined to take questions after her remarks, citing the ongoing investigation. The crowd cheered her on as the struggled to get through her statement and called on others to stand together before another person is attacked.

"Our time to seek justice is now," she said. "If not now, when?"