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

http://supportcece.wordpress.com/

###

For immediate release: May 2, 2012

11am at Duke Energy Building

526 S. Church St, Charlotte NC

Contact: Roxana Bendezu, roxanabendezu@gmail.com, 704-264-4444 or Monica Embrey, membrey@greenpeace.org, 773-419-0963

www.ncagainstcorporatepower.org

www.greenpeace.org

Denouncing anti-protest ordinance, local and national groups gear up for a show down in Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) The NC Coalition Against Corporate Power, Greenpeace, and Rainforest Action Network who are planning massive protests at the Duke Energy shareholder’s meeting on May 3^rd and Bank of America’s shareholders’ meeting on May 9^th, said that the City of Charlotte’s designation of the meeting as an “extraordinary event” would not deter or intimidate people from attending the events.

###

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/5/1/no_work_no_shopping_occupy_everywhere

NOTE: WI BOPM is a member of the the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights. Hear Ms.Teresa Gutierrez, co-coordinator of the May 1st Coalition, in this Democracy Now coverage. 

At the state capitol in Madison May Day 2012.

###

Drop the Charges Against Carlos Montes!
Stop the FBI frame up!
Call off the trial now!

On Thursday, May 3, call
Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley at
213-974-3512

Demand that all charges be dropped against Carlos Montes!

“Hello, my name is _________ and I am calling from __________. I want District Attorney Steve Cooley to drop all charges against Carlos Montes now. Carlos Montes is being framed by the FBI because of his political activism for peace, justice, and equality. Drop the charges now!”

Contact us and let us know how your calls went: info@stopFBI.net

http://www.stopfbi.net/

Sign the national petition: http://www.stopfbi.net/petition/national

Carlos Montes

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nationally condemned trial of Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald begins jury selection; Judge rules to exclude contextual evidence

Contact: Katie Burgess, Executive Director, Trans Youth Support Network (TYSN) transyouthsupportnetwork@gmail.com, (612) 363-7574; and Billy Navarro, Jr., MN Transgender Health Coalition, mntranspr@gmail.com, (612) 823-1152

Jury selection for Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald’s trial will begin today, amidst national outcry. On Monday, national figures Mara Keisling, founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Leslie Feinberg, author of Stone Butch Blues, flew into Minneapolis to attend the first scheduled day of McDonald’s trial. In an open letter calling on Michael Freeman to cease prosecution of McDonald, Feinberg commented, “The right of self-defense against all forms of oppressions–the spirit of Stonewall–is at the heart of the demand to free [McDonald].” Mara Keisling echoed this sentiment on Monday, stating, “People are being killed out there, and CeCe is being punished for not being killed.”

On Friday, over 40 supporters overflowed McDonald’s pre-trial evidentiary hearing, in which Judge Moreno heard motions regarding what evidence will be allowed in trial. Although Judge Moreno ruled that McDonald supporters will not be allowed to wear “Free CeCe” t-shirts or anti-swastika buttons in court, supporters were not deterred, and overflowed the court room again Monday morning for the continuation of the hearing.

Most notably, Judge Moreno sustained a motion from the prosecution to exclude the deceased’s criminal record, which includes three assault convictions.  Schmitz was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, his ex-girlfriend’s fourteen-year old daughter, and his ex-girlfriend’s father.  Judge Moreno has yet to rule whether the swastika tattoo on the deceased’s chest will be admitted into the trial, either in photos or testimony.  Judge Moreno refused to approve the defense’s request for expert witness to testify about climate of violence transgender people navigate in Minneapolis and nationally.  He has yet to rule on whether an expert witness can educate the jury about what the word “transgender” means.

McDonald’s defense argued that the deceased’s prior assault convictions, the swastika tattoo, and expert testimony about the incredibly disproportionate level of violence transgender people face provides crucial context to the case by demonstrating that McDonald had reason to fear for her life on June 5^th.  The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported that in 2010, “transgender women made up 44% of the 27 hate murders in the United States, while representing only 11% of total survivors and victims.”

Also noteworthy, in Monday’s continuation of the pre-trial hearing, the prosecution stated that no weapon had been recovered from the scene on the night of June 5th, and that it remains unclear what the weapon that caused the deceased’s fatal wound was.

Jury selection will begin this morning at 9am.  McDonald supporters will hold a press conference on the morning of opening statements, which will either Wednesday or Thursday.

CeCe McDonald

###

http://rt.com/news/russia-may-day-march-339/

At state capitol in Madison May Day 2012.

###

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3446973107573.143387.1668038703&type=1

At Union Square in New York City May Day 2012.

###

At state capitol in Madison for May Day 2012.

More photos:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.304481679631355.74118.151521811594010&type=1

###

A discussion with Medea Benjamin (co-founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange) on NATO, Iran, Drones, and resisting militarism.

Thursday, May 3, 7pm-9pm
UWM Union Room 191
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.

Also, join Medea and Peace Action for dinner before her talk at Rio West Cantina (2730 N. Humboldt Blvd.) at 5:00pm. Call 414-964-5158 to reserve your seat!

With more than 30 years of experience as a social justice activist, Medea Benjamin is one of the most energetic and accomplished leaders of the peace movement. As co-founder of both the women-led peace group CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange, Benjamin has played a key role in numerous progressive campaigns ranging from anti-sweatshop and global justice activism to antiwar and Middle East peace work.

Benjamin continues to be one of the most active and vocal critics of U.S. foreign policy. With CODEPINK, she has mobilized opposition to the ongoing US/NATO occupation of Afghanistan, the growing use of drone strikes, and our governmentʼs continued disregard for civil liberties at home and human rights abroad.

Benjaminʼs latest book, Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, serves as a call to action. “It is meant to wake a sleeping public,” she writes, “lulled into thinking that drones are good, that targeted killings are making us safer.” Her Milwaukee talk will address the disturbing expansion of the CIAʼs use of drones, as well as the upcoming NATO summit and protests in Chicago, the ongoing conflict surrounding Iranʼs nuclear program, and how the peace and justice message of the Occupy movement can be realized.

Sponsored by Peace Action WI, Occupy Milwaukee, and the Progressive Students of Milwaukee
www.peaceactionwi.org
414-964-5158

###

Thousands march in Milwaukee's May Day march April 29, 2012.

http://www.may1.info/

SUPREME COURT DECISION IS A CENTRAL ISSUE FOR COALITION

MAYDAY MARCHES IN NYC AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MARCH AGAINST ALL ANTI-IMMIGRANT & ANTI-WORKER POLICIES.
NO TO ARIZONA’S SB1070

One of the main issues that participants in the Pre-Mayday 2012 press conference scheduled for Thursday April 26 at 4:pm in Union Square will be discussing is the news that the U.S. Supreme Court is dangerously leaning towards upholding much of Arizona’s anti-immigrant, racial profiling laws. This has become a central issue for many of those who are preparing to march on May 1st in New York’s Union Square.

Teresa Gutierrez, a co-coordinator of the May 1st Coalition for Workers and Immigrant Rights, and one of the main organizers of the Mayday event in Union Square next Tuesday said “Mayday 2012 will send a strong and defiant message that if the highest court legalizes the fascistic racial profiling of millions of Brown and Black skin people, the people must shut down this whole country. This Mayday is going to be a warm-up exercise in preparation for that.”

Ms. Gutierrez continued ” Six years ago, it was outrage over the possibility of the U.S. Congress adopting the Sensenbrenner bill , which was virtually a national version of the racist Arizona law, that caused the biggest national uprising of immigrants in the history of the U.S. on Mayday 2006.”

Ms Gutierrez added “If the Supreme Court declares a racist war against those of us who don’t look “American” enough, when immigrants rise up to defend ourselves again, we will not be alone, because this time the Trayvon Martin’s of this country will be with us, and more of the organized labor movement including Black, Brown and White workers, will be standing with us as well. May Day 2012 has made history already with the unity of immigrants, labor and the OWS movement. The Arizona Supreme Court decision is clearly an issue for the 99% to take up and fight against”.

“The whole world is watching to see if the U.S. Supreme Court endorses the racist Arizona, anti-immigrant apartheid law” Gutierrez continued.

Dozens of immigrant groups, labor representatives and activists from Occupy Wall Street will attend the April 26 Press Conference at Union Square at 4pm.

MANY THOUSANDS WILL GATHER AT UNION SQUARE ON MAY 1, STARTING AT NOON.

###