CeCe McDonald

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CeCe McDonald
CeCe McDonald at the SF LGBT Center.
Born (1989-05-26) May 26, 1989 (age 35)[1]
Chicago[1]
NationalityAmerican
Known forLGBTQ activism

CeCe McDonald (

transphobic, and became physical when McDonald was struck in the face by the man's friend with "an alcoholic drink" glass causing a bleeding gash that needed stitches.[9]

According to Mother Jones, when McDonald was attempting to escape the bar, the man came after her. McDonald "took a pair of scissors out of her purse and turned around to face [him]; he was stabbed in the chest and died from the wound."[10] McDonald said she saw how her case was progressing so took the plea bargain rather than face trial and risk a possible 20-year term.[11]: 6  According to the Bay Area Reporter her conviction "sparked outrage, and was viewed by many as an act of transphobia and racism against a woman who defended herself."[12] Although a woman, McDonald was housed in two men's prisons.[13] An online petition "led to the state department of corrections administering the full regimen of hormones she needed."[13]

Her story got international attention including in May 2013 when an

Ebony.com article about the case won the GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Digital Journalism Article". She also received support from transgender activist and actress Laverne Cox, star of Orange Is the New Black, which includes story lines about trans women of color and hate crimes.[3][14] Cox says McDonald is the image she has of her OITNB character, Sophia Burset, and that she plays Burset as an homage to McDonald.[15] Cox also identifies with her experiences, "So many times I've ... been harassed, any of them could have escalated ... I very easily could be CeCe."[15]

McDonald was released in January 2014 after serving 19 months. She was profiled in

Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.[12]

Early life

McDonald, who was born in 1989

South Chicago,[11]: 6  studied fashion at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.[11]
: 1 

Assault

Background

At around 11:30 pm on June 5, 2011,

Cub Foods to buy groceries. On the way, a police officer briefly stopped and questioned the group without provocation; he then followed them for a short time and departed.[11]
: 1–2 

Assault and attacks (June 2011)

McDonald said she and her friends were confronted outside the Schooner Tavern by Dean Schmitz and others.

nigger lovers, and whoop-de-woo, you ain't nothing but a bunch of nigger babies," and that in response he went over to talk to Schmitz. According to Thomas, Schmitz then walked off and "started talking this stuff, like, 'Oh, look at the tranny over there, look at that tranny.'"[11]: 2  McDonald said in a letter from Hennepin County jail that Schmitz called everyone in McDonald's group niggers.[21]

McDonald testified that she and her friends tried to walk away,[22] but that Flaherty started a fight[23] by smashing a glass of alcohol against her face, cutting her[22] and requiring 11 stitches.[24] McDonald was asked in court whether Flaherty then said "I can take on all of you bitches", to which she replied in the affirmative;[2] Thoreson recalled that at this point Flaherty threw the first punch.[11]: 2  According to McDonald's testimony, at one point Schmitz said "look at that boy dressed like a girl and tucking her dick in".[2] David Crandell, Flaherty's boyfriend, then stepped out of the bar to find multiple members of McDonald's group attacking Flaherty, and tried to pull them away from her.[11]: 2 

Gary Gilbert, a security worker at the Schooner Tavern, recalled seeing Schmitz pull McDonald away from Flaherty, and that Schmitz and McDonald then moved into the street.[11]: 2  McDonald's defense characterized this move as McDonald having "attempted to leave the scene, attempted to get out of harm's way", and added that she was followed by Schmitz.[2] Gilbert recalled that McDonald appeared to be holding a blade, while Schmitz had his fists clenched and said to McDonald "you gonna stab me, you bitch?" Schmitz then hunched over, put his hand to his shirt and said "you stabbed me," to which McDonald replied, according to a witness, "Yes I did."[11]: 2 [22] Schmitz was stabbed in the chest with a pair of scissors.[22] McDonald told police that Schmitz charged at her, running into scissors she was holding.[21]

After those present saw Schmitz bleeding, the fighting stopped; McDonald and Thomas ran towards Cub Foods while some of their friends boarded a Metro Transit bus.

right ventricle. Anthony Stoneburg, who was in the neighborhood visiting his aunt, tried to plug the wound, but Schmitz died in the ambulance. In the parking lot of the grocery store, McDonald saw the police car searching for her and flagged the officers down.[11]: 1  She was arrested and confessed to the stabbing, but in her letter from Hennepin County jail wrote that confessing was "a big mistake [for] trying to cover up for one of my friends who actually did it. I didn't know exactly who, but I knew someone was defending me."[21] Larry Thomas and Zavawn Smith also said that another friend, who they saw running away from the scene at the time, had admitted stabbing Schmitz.[25]

Pretrial period

In the days following the stabbing, the office of

jury instruction calls for in this kind of case." Izek cited the fact that McDonald was bleeding profusely from her facial wound as a reason for her to believe she was in danger.[11]: 3  Freeman argued there was no evidence that Schmitz posed a threat to McDonald's life and that McDonald had failed to exercise her duty to retreat, saying "the evidence here does not reflect self-defense. She stepped forward to thrust a weapon into a person that had not assaulted her. That, to me, just doesn't fit." Freeman also said "there is no evidence that I'm aware of that [Schmitz] had any weapon in his hand, or that he had done anything to McDonald, other than to be part of this group, where there were shouts from virtually everyone around." Freeman also alleged that McDonald's story changed between the incident and her trial: though on the night of June 5 she confessed to stabbing Schmitz, she later claimed someone else had stabbed him.[11]
: 4 

The defense also intended to bring before the jury details about Schmitz, including that he had faced more than two dozen criminal cases since turning 18; his past convictions for fifth-degree assault and

white supremacists while in prison when he was younger. Freeman dismissed the tattoo as irrelevant, saying McDonald "couldn't see it, nor could anyone else ... It adds a little bit of sensationalism to the case, obviously."[11]
: 4 

On the first day of pretrial hearings, the prosecution disputed the admittance of Schmitz's tattoo, arguing it was not relevant and was unfairly prejudicial.

bad check.[11]
: 5 

Media and public attention during pre-trial

In the aftermath of the stabbing, Schmitz's family spoke to

FOX 9 News. Schmitz's son, Jeremy Williams, said his father "always used to go out of his way to help people... He would give the shirt off his back to help people. He was, overall, a great person."[27] In her letter from Hennepin County jail, McDonald said "none of this mess wouldn't be happening if it weren't for the victim and his group being rude and disrespectful to people they never knew."[21]

In April 2012, author

Ebony.com entitled "Why Aren't We Fighting for CeCe McDonald?" won the GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Digital Journalism Article".[14] McDonald also received the support of transgender activist and actress Laverne Cox, who stars in the television series Orange Is the New Black.[3]

A May 2012 press release by McDonald's support committee said the sentencing proceedings included statements from community leaders, clergy, and members of McDonald's family.[20]: 1  McDonald's supporters held dance parties and rallies outside the Hennepin County jail in her honor,[11]: 2  and over 18,000 people signed a Change.org petition calling for Freeman to drop the charges against McDonald.[20]: 2 

In June 2012, a group calling itself the "Queer Attack Squadron" claimed responsibility for a Portland, Oregon incident throwing an unlit molotov cocktail through the window of a Wells Fargo bank as a gesture of solidarity with McDonald. Katie Burgess, executive director of the Trans Youth Support Network, said the group had no connection to McDonald's supporters in Minneapolis.[28][29] Burgess said the growth in support for McDonald and her self-defense argument was due to the perception McDonald was "on trial for surviving a hate crime."[20]: 1 

Plea bargain (May 2012)

Days before the trial was to begin, Moreno offered a

restitution for Schmitz's funeral expenses.[30]

Imprisonment

While awaiting trial, McDonald was held in segregated custody and spent time under

civil suit against the Department of Corrections to be relocated to a safer place. That may or may not be a women's prison."[22] After she was sentenced, McDonald expressed resignation, saying "I've faced worse things in my life than prison."[11]
: 2 

Following her conviction, a spokeswoman for the

regimen of hormones. Despite being transferred to a second facility McDonald remained quartered with men throughout her imprisonment.[3]

Flaherty assault case

Flaherty, Schmitz's ex-girlfriend who was among those verbally assaulting McDonald and her friends outside the bar, was charged in May 2012 with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm for attacking McDonald with "an alcoholic drink" glass causing a bleeding gash to her face needing eleven stitches.[24][34] Her case was referred to the Washington County Attorney's Office in order to avoid a conflict of interest.[11]: 4  In April 2013, Flaherty was sentenced to six months' jail time and probation after pleading guilty to third-degree assault, and was given credit for 135 days served in jail.[35]

Release (January 2014)

McDonald was released on January 13, 2014, after serving 19 months, and remained under the supervision of the Minnesota Department of Corrections through her 41-month sentence.[36] Laverne Cox was among those who greeted her.[37] Roxanne Anderson, the program director for the Trans Youth Support Network, said "CeCe is doing great. She looks good and she is good spirits," and that McDonald was not ready to comment publicly.[3] Chase Strangio, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, said "This is a day to celebrate, and to honor CeCe for all she's done from the day of her arrest to draw attention to the systemic violence women of color, and particularly LGBT women of color face everyday. Her message from the start was not to sensationalize the story, but to bring attention to the issue."[38]

McDonald gave her first televised interview six days later on

Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC. McDonald spoke about her incarceration and those of other incarcerated transgender people, saying "I felt like they wanted me to hate myself as a trans woman," and added "prisons aren't safe for anyone, and that's the key issue." The segment also featured Katie Burgess, who said "the only way that trans folks are going to be safe in prisons is for incarceration of people to end."[39]

Post-incarceration

McDonald with activist Joshua Allen on their Black Excellence Tour.

In 2014, McDonald was profiled by

Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.[12]

In 2016, McDonald teamed up with gender non-conforming activist and

prison abolitionist Joshua Allen for a Black Excellence Tour.[40][41]

FREE CeCe!

FREE CeCe, a documentary about McDonald by Laverne Cox and Jac Gares, started production in August 2013.

In The Life and raised $300,000 to fund FREE CeCe.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "CeCe McDonald". LGBT History Month. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Birkey, Andy (May 4, 2012). "The trial of CeCe McDonald". The American Independent. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Goldman, Russell (January 13, 2014). "Transgender Activist CeCe McDonald Released from Prison". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e Avery, Dan (June 4, 2012). "Trans Woman "CeCe" McDonald Sentenced To 41 Months For Slaying Attacker". Queerty. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Ennis, Dawn (28 November 2014). "Laverne Cox Rocks The View". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  6. ^ Signorile, Michelangelo (22 February 2014). "CeCe McDonald, Transgender Activist, Recalls Hate Attack, Manslaughter Case". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  7. ^ Jain, Ankit. "Uncommon Interview: CeCe McDonald". Chicago Maroon. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  8. ^ Goldman, Russell. "Transgender Activist CeCe McDonald Released from Prison". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  9. ^ Solomon, Akiba (4 May 2012). "CeCe McDonald: Attacked for Her Identity, Incarcerated for Surviving". Ebony. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  10. ^ Pasulka, Nicole. "The Case of CeCe McDonald: Murder—or Self-Defense Against a Hate Crime?". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 18 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014. was walking with four friends past Schooner Tavern in Minneapolis. A group of at least four white people outside the bar began harassing McDonald and her friends, calling the group, all of whom were African American, "niggers" and "faggots." One of the men in the group, who would later be identified as Dean Schmitz, said "look at that boy dressed like a girl tucking her dick in." As McDonald and her friends tried to walk away, Schmitz's ex-girlfriend Molly Flaherty hit McDonald in the face with a glass of alcohol and sliced open her cheek, causing an injury that would later require stitches. The groups began fighting, and when McDonald attempted to leave the scene, Schmitz followed. McDonald took a pair of scissors out of her purse and turned around to face Schmitz; he was stabbed in the chest and died from the wound.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Mannix, Andy (May 9, 2012). "CeCe McDonald murder trial". City Pages. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c Nahmod, David-Elijah. "Tears, cheers for McDonald at Milk club dinner". Bay Area Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  13. ^ a b Goldman, Russell. "Transgender Activist CeCe McDonald Released from Prison". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  14. ^ a b Townsend, Megan (2013-05-14). "Laverne Cox, Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler present to Marc Lamont Hill, Ebony.com at #GLAADAwards". GLAAD. Archived from the original on 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2014-01-13. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill was presented with the award for Outstanding Digital Journalism Article…for Hill's Ebony.com piece "Why Aren't We Fighting for CeCe McDonald?" at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.
  15. ^ a b Erdely, Sabrina Rubin (30 July 2014). "The Transgender Crucible". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  16. ^ a b Rubin Erdely, Sabrina (July 30, 2014). "The Transgender Crucible". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  17. ^
    Advocate. Archived
    from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  18. ^ a b Logsdon-Breakstone, Savannah (December 16, 2013). "Laverne Cox and Jac Gares on Their New Documentary, FREE CeCe!". Persephone Magazine. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Fabian, Renee (December 17, 2013). "'FREE CECE' - Laverne Cox's documentary to free CeCe McDonald". GLAAD. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Pasulka, Nicole (May 22, 2012). "The Case of CeCe McDonald: Murder—or Self-Defense Against a Hate Crime?". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d e Walsh, Paul (June 27, 2011). "Transgender advocates defend accused killer of bar patron". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  22. ^ a b c d e Pearce, Matt (June 18, 2012). "Transgender woman sentenced to men's prison in Minnesota killing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Avery, Dan (May 1, 2012). "Trial Of CeCe McDonald, Trans Woman Accused Of Stabbing Death, Begins In MN". Queerty. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  24. ^ a b Mannix, Andy (May 23, 2012). "Molly Flaherty charged with smashing glass on CeCe McDonald's face". City Pages. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  25. ^ Mullen, Mike (June 29, 2011). "Transgender suspect Chrishaun McDonald didn't kill Dean Schmitz, witnesses claim". City Pages. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  26. ^ "The CeCe McDonald story: was she fighting back or committing murder?". www.crimelibrary.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  27. KMSP Fox 9. June 8, 2011. Archived
    from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  28. ^ Rivas, Jorge (June 7, 2012). "Wells Fargo Hit With Molotov Cocktail in 'Solidarity With CeCe'". ColorLines. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  29. ^ Mannix, Andy (June 12, 2012). "CeCe McDonald supporters throw Molotov cocktail at Portland Wells Fargo". City Pages. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  30. ^ Simons, Abby; Walsh, Paul (June 5, 2012). "Transgender defendant gets 3 years for killing bar patron". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  31. ^ Simons, Abby; Walsh, Paul (June 19, 2012). "McDonald imprisoned in male facility". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  32. ^ Rivas, Jorge (June 4, 2012). "Black Transgender Woman CeCe McDonald to be Housed in Male Prison". ColorLines. Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  33. ^ Walsh, Paul (January 13, 2014). "'CeCe' McDonald freed after 19 months in prison for killing Mpls. bar patron". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  34. ^ Simons, Abby (May 23, 2012). "Woman charged in attack on friend's killer during melee outside Mpls. bar". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  35. ^ Simons, Abby (April 4, 2013). "Jail term for Minneapolis woman who ignited melee". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  36. ^ Merevick, Tony (January 13, 2014). "After 19 Months In Men's Prison, CeCe McDonald Released". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  37. Pink News. Archived
    from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  38. ^ Hsieh, Steven (January 13, 2014). "Trans Activist CeCe McDonald Was Released From Prison Today". The Nation. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  39. Salon. Archived
    from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  40. ^ Cherise Morris; Rheem Brooks (March 24, 2016). "Interview with Joshua Allen: Bending Towards Freedom: Queer Abolitionist Histories & Black Femmehood". Bluestockings Magazine. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  41. ^ a b c d Staver, Sari (October 27, 2016). "Trans film fest unveils largest program ever". Bay Area Reporter. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.

External links

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