CeCe McDonald walked out of St. Cloud State Penitentiary a free woman on January 13, after serving 19 months of a 41-month sentence. She will be under court supervision for the remainder of the sentence. McDonald is a transgender woman who was required to serve her sentence in a men's prison. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter in charges stemming from a fight outside a bar. The fight began when three older white people called out transphobic and racial slurs. (Back story, photos, links below.)
Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox is producing a documentary about McDonald, and was among those greeting her on her release. A welcome home party is planned at Intermedia Arts on Saturday, January 18.
Here's the back story:
"At about 12:30 in the morning on June 5, police responded to a report of a stabbing at the intersection of 27th Avenue South and 29th Street in Minneapolis, which is outside of Schooner Tavern. According to McDonald’s supporter Katie Burgess, from the Trans Youth Support Network, McDonald was walking toward Rainbow foods with a group of friends — her partner, two other transgender women and two gay black men. Burgess says that three older white people who had been in Schooner Tavern called out transphobic slurs, and a fight broke out, resulting in McDonald’s face being slashed with a piece of glass. According to supporter Jude Ortiz, the glass went all the way through her cheek.
"What happened next is the crux of the case against McDonald. Did she stab Dean Schmitz with a scissors? McDonald allegedly denied doing so at the beginning of her interrogation, according to Izek's motion, but then claimed that the victim ran into a pair of scissors that McDonald was holding. ...
"McDonald was treated for two lacerations on her face, one that was 2.5 cm and one that was .8 centimeters. She was given a local anesthetic, stitches, 1000 mg of Tylenol for pain and an intermuscular injection for tetanus, according to the motion."
FREE SPEECH ZONE | CeCe McDonald deemed 'not a threat,' bail lowered as supporters fill courtroom by Lex Horan and Luce Guillen-Givens
CeCe McDonald goes to court — hearing on Miranda rights on Monday by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald trial begins by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
CeCe McDonald pleads guilty to manslaughter by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
BEHIND THE STORY | CeCe McDonald, Trayvon Martin and our unjust system by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
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CeCe McDonald walked out of St. Cloud State Penitentiary a free woman on January 13, after serving 19 months of a 41-month sentence. She will be under court supervision for the remainder of the sentence. McDonald is a transgender woman who was required to serve her sentence in a men's prison. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter in charges stemming from a fight outside a bar. The fight began when three older white people called out transphobic and racial slurs. (Back story, photos, links below.)
Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox is producing a documentary about McDonald, and was among those greeting her on her release. A welcome home party is planned at Intermedia Arts on Saturday, January 18.
Here's the back story:
"At about 12:30 in the morning on June 5, police responded to a report of a stabbing at the intersection of 27th Avenue South and 29th Street in Minneapolis, which is outside of Schooner Tavern. According to McDonald’s supporter Katie Burgess, from the Trans Youth Support Network, McDonald was walking toward Rainbow foods with a group of friends — her partner, two other transgender women and two gay black men. Burgess says that three older white people who had been in Schooner Tavern called out transphobic slurs, and a fight broke out, resulting in McDonald’s face being slashed with a piece of glass. According to supporter Jude Ortiz, the glass went all the way through her cheek.
"What happened next is the crux of the case against McDonald. Did she stab Dean Schmitz with a scissors? McDonald allegedly denied doing so at the beginning of her interrogation, according to Izek's motion, but then claimed that the victim ran into a pair of scissors that McDonald was holding. ...
"McDonald was treated for two lacerations on her face, one that was 2.5 cm and one that was .8 centimeters. She was given a local anesthetic, stitches, 1000 mg of Tylenol for pain and an intermuscular injection for tetanus, according to the motion."
FREE SPEECH ZONE | CeCe McDonald deemed 'not a threat,' bail lowered as supporters fill courtroom by Lex Horan and Luce Guillen-Givens
CeCe McDonald goes to court — hearing on Miranda rights on Monday by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald trial begins by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
CeCe McDonald pleads guilty to manslaughter by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
BEHIND THE STORY | CeCe McDonald, Trayvon Martin and our unjust system by Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
[If you don't see the Storify photos and comments below, please refresh your browser window.]