A small rally was held Tuesday after police say a transgender woman was attacked while she went to her apartment in Queens, New York, early on Sunday.

The victim, 35, was entering her apartment in Jackson Heights at about 4 a.m. when she was hit in the head and face before being tossed to the ground and slammed against the curb.

Authorities say she was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition. Activists behind Tuesday's rally said in a Facebook post that she has brain damage.

Police initially identified the victim as a man and said they were investigating the assault as a potential hate crime because the man was dressed in women's clothing. The organizers of Tuesday's rally say the victim identifies as a transgender woman.

A handful of people gathered at 97th Place and 93rd Street Tuesday evening.

Organizer Bianey Garcia said, "We're here demanding stop the hate crimes against the trans commnunity."

She said she visited the victim at the hospital earlier, and that the victim spoke for the first time.

Authorities say the suspect fled the area and is described as a man in his 30s.