Have You Heard About CeCe McDonald?

CeCe McDonald is a young African-American trans woman who is being charged with murder after an attack which began when she was verbally and physically assaulted outside a bar in Minneapolis.

In the early morning of June 5th, CeCe and her friends were walking past the Schooner Tavern when a white man and two white women decided to harass them. Her attackers hurled racist and transphobic insults at CeCe and her friends, suggesting CeCe was “dressed as a woman” to “rape” before one person smashed her drink into CeCe’s face, significantly injuring her. A fight broke out and a white male attacker was fatally stabbed. The attack on CeCe which began the fight was ignored, and she was taken into custody, charged with second degree murder. Prior to having her life interrupted, CeCe was studying fashion at a local college and supported a family of four other youth who lived with her.

Throughout the ordeal, CeCe has been misgendered by the media and the courts. She was additionally kept in solitary confinement for a full month and possibly denied proper medical care for injuries sustained when she was attacked. Thanks to several large donations to offset an enormous bail, CeCe was finally released from jail in October.

Her fight is far from over. By not recognizing the hate crime committed against CeCe, Hennepin County continues to side with her white supremacist attackers. The Hennepin County Attorney has–this year–already dropped charges against three other women who were attacked and whose attackers were killed. The Support CeCe Campaign is asking for all supporters to contact the Hennepin County Attorney, Michael Freeman, and ask that the charges against Chrishaun McDonald be dropped.

As many times as people talk about the violence trans women of color face, now is the time to get directly involved! Spread the news about CeCe, contact the Hennepin County Attorney, and if you are able, make a contribution towards her continued campaign for freedom.

*****

Check out this leaflet from the Support CeCe Campaign with general info on CeCe’s case.

Check out this diagram from the Sylvia Rivera Law Project on low-income and trans people and the criminal justice system.

Keep up with Minneapolis-area events related to CeCe’s case, including fundraisers and rallies here. There is an upcoming dinner and program on racial justice and CeCe’s case on December 15th.

Read “What is shocking versus what is invisible: Chrishaun McDonald, racism and transphobia” from Twin Cities Indymedia.

cross-posted from