Cece McDonald Sentencing Monday: Please Write The Judge

If one person reads this post and writes before 1:00pm central Friday June 1st I will be happy. I know its short notice but our letters could make the critical difference during her sentencing.

email your letter to mpls4cece@gmail.com and the support committee will print and hand carry them to the judge.

From the Support Cece McDonald Committee

Write to Judge Moreno!
CeCe's sentencing is scheduled for this coming
Monday, June 4, at 1:30pm. Our expectation is that she will be sentenced to 41 months in prison (between time already served and time off for good behavior, the time left that she'll remain incarcerated is likely under two years), in accordance with her plea agreement.


HOWEVER, we believe that CeCe's status as an African American transgender woman makes her especially vulnerable to abuse while incarcerated, and so we are asking Judge Moreno to exercise his judicial discretion and order that she serve her sentence *on house arrest rather than in prison.*



We are calling on supporters to take a few minutes and write a letter to Judge Moreno, urging him to order house arrest rather than prison.



Letters should be addressed to Judge Daniel C. Moreno, but *submitted to the CeCe Support Committee via email (mpls4cece@gmail.com) by THIS FRIDAY, June 1, AT NOON.* We're going to deliver them all at once to the judge personally.



We have met with her lawyers and the following are their suggestions on how best to write letters.

Please consider the following points when crafting your letter:

-Genuine sentiment and honesty are more important than length and eloquence. Don't worry about how articulate your letter is--just say what you mean (in a respectful manner)!

-Letters should speak to any or all of the following topics:

--That house arrest is a reasonable option given the offense CeCe pled to and which adequately addresses her vulnerability in the prison system

--CeCe's good character (explain your relationship to her in the letter, and include anecdotal evidence of what a loving, caring and constructive person she is)

--That CeCe poses no threat to the community

--Ways that CeCe's imprisonment will have an unduly negative impact on her friends and family (if you have personal knowledge of this)

-DO NOT disparage or even comment on Dean Schmitz, or any of the other people (including CeCe's attacker) present that night.

-DO NOT comment on issues of innocence vs. guilt. DO NOT claim that CeCe is innocent, or that she was falsely or unfairly convicted or coerced into taking a plea deal, or that she acted in self-defense. In considering her sentence, the Judge will be looking at whether or not CeCe takes full responsibility for the action she pled guilty to, and any arguments undermining that taking of responsibility may do more harm than good.

-DO NOT use the letter to make arguments about the unjust nature of the criminal legal system. We all feel it, but the Judge won't!


In solidarity,
the CeCe Support Committee

++++++++++++++++++

The following is a letter sent by a friend. You can use it as a example, if you wish. You can find my letter at the bottom of the post. Your letter does not have to be long, just words from your heart.

+++++++++

Dear Judge Daniel C. Moreno,

I am writing you in regard to the case of CeCe McDonald who has a sentencing hearing scheduled on June 4, 2012 at 1:30 PM.
... I would like to ask you to show discretion and take into account her time served along with good behavior in her sentence. Please take into consideration the possibility of allowing her serve her sentence under house arrest.

I feel incarceration in a public facility could be detrimental to CeCe’s mental health and physical safety since she is not only African American but also a transgender woman. I fear this will make her even more vulnerable to physical abuse if housed with the general population.

While I do not personally know CeCe I have followed her case since the beginning and have had many communications with her support group. In following those communications I do truly believe that CeCe wants to take full responsibility for her actions. I know she has a solid support system of family and friends which will give her a solid foundation of support during the service of her sentence. She is of no danger to herself or a threat to the community.

Thank you for taking all options into consideration and I hope you will give CeCe a chance to redeem herself and have the opportunity to give back to her community.

######################

The letter I just sent.......

Dear Judge Daniel C. Moreno,

I am writing you in regard to the case of CeCe McDonald who has a sentencing hearing scheduled on June 4, 2012 at 1:30 PM.

As a advocate and columnist I have become aware of the terrible times transgender people in general population face, and this would even be worst for Cece being a woman of color.

I have been following this case since the beginning and have faithfully read her supporters statements. I believe Cece could be trusted to do her time under house arrest. She is of no threat to the general population and I believe, not a risk to flee.

Cece has an amazing support network who truly care for her waiting to help this young woman become a productive citizen.

Thank you,

Kelli Busey

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (Co Admin)
http://dallastaa.ning.com

planetransgender
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com

Be Cece's Family Letter Writing Campaign

Dallas Transgender Advocates Grass Roots Action in Support Of Our Sister Cece McDonald, Incarcerated to satisfy The Industrial Prison Complexes insatiable appetite For Minorities.

Now is when we show our true trans mettle and commit ourselves to a grass roots action showing our incarcerated sister we care.

We know we do care but she won't unless we tell her.

What we got to do....

Buy envelopes, stamps and a pad of paper..

In your own words tell Cece how you feel..doesn't have to be anything fancy, just be u...

This will be the only contact she may have over the long run as her case begins to fade from media attention and peoples minds. Its only human we do tend to procrastinate, until her imprisonment fades but its a sign of a true friend and a solid community that we won't.

Write CeCe

Please send a letter to CeCe while she is in jail. Let her know she has a huge amount of community support and that we are all here for her.

Public Safety Facility

Chrishaun Reed McDonald #2012000296

401 South 4th Avenue

Suite 100

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Dallas Transgender Advocate's Action Be Cece's Family

Support Cece Wordpress

CeCe McDonald to be Sentenced For Not Being Murdered: INjustice Done

Cece a black transgender woman defended herself surviving the attack by three racist transphobic bigots. Her reward, 41 months in jail. A white man in Florida shoots dead an unarmed black teenager and isn't even arrested until after social media, like this blog, forces mainstream media to bring national attention to the crime.

From my perspective as a transgender advocate who mourns the murder of trans people ever DAY AND A HALF, I'm relieved. At least it wasn't our sisters dead body in that ambulance.

But a major injustice has been done non the less.

From the CeCe McDonald Support Committee:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2012

Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald Accepts Plea Agreement to Reduced Manslaughter Charge

Racism, Transphobia in Legal System Continued Assault McDonald Survived, Supporters Charge

Contact: Katie Burgess, Executive Director, Trans Youth Support Network, transyouthsupportnetwork@gmail.com, (612) 363-757 and Billy Navarro Jr, MN Transgender Health Coalition, mntranspr@gmail.com, (612) 823-1152

Minneapolis, MN - Earlier today, Ms. Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald accepted a plea agreement to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the second degree in the criminal case resulting from the racist, transphobic assault she survived last June that left one of her attackers dead. The prosecution had originally charged her with felony murder in the second degree. However, after entering into plea negotiations this morning, the defense and the prosecution settled on the reduced charge. McDonald will be sentenced on June 4th at 1:30pm under Hennepin County Judge Daniel Moreno to 41 months in prison. The executed sentence will be reduced by one third, for "good time" and credit for the time McDonald has served pending this resolution.

The plea agreement comes nearly a year after McDonald was arrested, interrogated, denied adequate medical care for a laceration she suffered during the attack and held in solitary confinement for a month for being a transgender person. During the pre-trial proceedings, supporters raised world-wide support for the charges against McDonald to be dropped. Last month, supporters delivered to Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman a petition for dropping the charges with over 15,000 signatures and dozens of letters of support for McDonald from organizations and prominent individuals from around the globe.

Freeman consistently failed to exercise his professional discretion and take a stand against racism and transphobia by dropping the charges.

"Freeman's aggressive prosecution of CeCe was a continuation of the racist, transphobic assault that led to her being charged and resulted in the tragic death of one of the assailants," said Kris Gebhard of the CeCe McDonald Support Committee. "We've been proud to stand with CeCe as she fought this unjust prosecution and will continue to stand with her as she fights for justice as a trans woman of color within the prison system."

In a press conference after the plea agreement was accepted in court, Katie Burgess of the Trans Youth Support Network addressed the crowd of supporters filling the steps outside the Hennepin County Courthouse. Burgess said:

"Over the past 10 months I have witnessed the legal system isolating and attacking another young trans woman of color in our community, CeCe McDonald. And over the past 10 months, I have also witnessed our community say very clearly, 'You are not alone, CeCe! And we have had enough!'

"With the whole world watching, Freeman's office consistently chose not to take the opportunity to stand up against racism and transphobia. Freeman himself said, and I quote, 'The criminal justice system is not built for, nor is it necessarily good at, solving a lot of society's problems.'

"We know that this system is not designed to deliver justice to young trans women of color. We are going to continue to support CeCe as she goes through this process and continue to stand for justice for all trans people and people of color so that this is the last time a young trans woman of color has to go through this."

Supporters will pack the courtroom for the sentencing on June 4th and continue to rally support for McDonald and to demand justice for all trans people and people of color.

For further updates, visit supportcece.wordpress.com and follow @Free_CeCe on Twitter

Hennepin County Attorney: Do Not Prosecute Cece McDonald For Being a Black Trans Woman

Cece's hearing is scheduled for April 24th. We will "STAND OUR GROUND" with Cece!

From the Petition: "Last summer, CeCe McDonald, a young African American transgender woman, was violently attacked in the heart of South Minneapolis. As she and several friends, also African American and queer or allied, were walking to the grocery store, a group of white adults standing outside of a bar started shouting racist and transphobic insults at them, calling the youth "faggots," "niggers," and "chicks with dicks". Tragically, the violence did not stop there- one of the white adults slashed CeCe across the face with a broken bottle, cutting all the way through her cheek, and another of the attackers was fatally stabbed. Amazingly, in the aftermath of this racist and transphobic attack, the only person facing charges is CeCe McDonald- the victim. Michael Freeman, the Hennepin County Attorney, has charged CeCe with two counts of second degree murder. Because of these charges, she has been unable to recover from the attack and prevented from continuing her studies at the Minneapolis Community Technical College. Considering that County Attorney Michael Freeman has dropped charges in similar situations this year and that he has advocated strongly for programs to keep kids in school, arguing "We all know that when kids miss school they don't learn," why is Michael Freeman ruthlessly going after this young student? We refuse to allow racism and transphobia, on Minneapolis streets or in Minneapolis courts. We support CeCe. We are waiting for County Attorney Michael Freeman to honor his commitment, in his words "to serve all of our citizens with understanding, dignity, and respect" by dropping the charges against CeCe McDonald."

Source: Support Cece Wordpress While Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald is being prosecuted for murder after being violently attacked for her race and gender, Freeman’s office recently declined to prosecute the killer of Darrell Evanovich, a black man who was shot dead by a white man after an alleged robbery. While no person should be thrown to the mercy of the soulless, so-called “justice” system, the fact that CeCe is on trial after being assaulted, while a white man who killed someone after chasing them down is touted as a “good Samaritan,” highlights the racist and transphobic nature of the prosecution of CeCe. Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Marlene Senechal have the power to drop the charges against CeCe. So far, though, he has implicitly sided with CeCe’s white supremacist attackers by failing to acknowledge the racist, transphobic assault that she survived as a mitigating factor in the unintentional death of Dean Schmitz.

When: ALL DAY Where: From home, work, wherever you find yourself!

What: Call Michael Freeman at 612-348-5540, fax at 612-348-2042, and email at citizeninfo@co.hennepin.mn.us

Call Marlene Senechal at 612-348-5561, fax at 612-348-3061, and email at citizeninfo@co.hennepin.mn.us
(and please send us an email us at mpls4cece(a)gmail.com to let us know you called/emailed/faxed in!)

Remember to remain polite but assertive. Some key points to mention in your calls, emails, and faxes are:

•Identify yourself as a supporter, friend, family member, or community member calling about Ms. Chrishaun McDonald’s case.•Tell the County Attorney’s Office why you’re concerned: Ms. McDonald was the target of a hate crime, but she was singled out for aggressive prosecution after the attack.•County Attorney Freeman has declined to press charges in cases like this at least three times already this year. Remind him that he has the power to drop the charges against Ms. McDonald.•Tell Freeman and Senechal not to side with Ms. McDonald’s white supremacist attackers: drop the charges against Ms. McDonald.Tell Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Assistant Attorney Marlene Senechal to take a stand against hate, racism, and transphobia. Tell Freeman and Senechal to DROP THE CHARGES against Chrishaun McDonald!

Please send us an email us at mpls4cece(a)gmail.com to let us know you called/emailed/faxed in!


Visit Support Cece Wordpress to find out more on how you can stand your ground with Cece!