A transgender African-American woman is set to go on trial next week on
charges of second-degree murder for an altercation after she was
reportedly physically attacked and called racist and homophobic slurs
outside a Minneapolis bar last year. Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald received
11 stitches to her cheek and was reportedly interrogated without counsel
and placed in solitary confinement following her arrest. There were
reports that the dead victim, Dean Schmitz, had a swastika tattooed on
his chest. McDonald’s supporters say the case is symptomatic of the bias
against transgender people and African Americans in the criminal
justice system. "People were very enraged about what had happened to her
and the refusal of Hennepin County to recognize her right to
self-defense," says Katie Burgess, executive director of Trans Youth
Support Network, who has helped draw attention to the case and notes
transgender people of color are twice as likely to experience
discrimination as their white peers. We also speak with Rai’vyn Cross,
one of McDonald’s best friends.Video
Source: Democracy Now!
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