CeCe McDonald spoke at Ohio University Thursday night on issues of mass incarceration and trans liberation.
Last night a crowd of around 200 gathered in Walter Hall, with some leaning against walls and others sitting comfortably in corners, to hear the message of CeCe McDonald.
CeCe McDonald was jailed for second-degree manslaughter, which reportedly occurred after she stabbed a man defending herself while being harassed for being transgender. Within the confines of the penal system, she met others just like her whose stories inspired her to speak up on the issues at hand.
McDonald hit on many big issues during her talk such as racism, sexism, mass incarceration, trans liberation, police brutality and even socialism.
Opening with the reality of mass dehumanization of African Americans, McDonald spoke on the incorrect perception of the race being “angry” and “violent.”
Dehumanization leads to an increased number of not just African Americans, but also trans women, trans men and those with mental issues in prisons. McDonald went on to criticize the treatment of those with mental illnesses within the system.
Clayton Hamre, a junior and political science major, said he’d been one of the many who followed McDonald’s case and was “really surprised” when he heard she was coming to OU.
“It was a very interesting event,” he said. “(I liked) her points on the broad-reaching impacts of dehumanization of black women and trans (individuals) in the prison-industrial complex.”
McDonald told a story of attempted police intimidation when she waiting for the bus to go to school. An officer pulled up in front of the stop to ask her exactly what she was doing before accusing her of solicitation.
“Well, I (was) obviously waiting for the bus,” she said. She rolled her eyes and the audience laughed.
Her candidness and willingness to talk about anything and everything was received well by the attendees.
“It was amazing. She was so funny and well rounded and full of experience,” said Ellenore Holbrook, a sophomore studying political science.
McDonald also commented on the many movements sweeping America for equality and liberation. She expressed her pride in Hands Up and Black Lives Matter, but there is more to the story for her.
“While we were focused on the police brutality that men of color face, we kind of left behind the brutality to immigrants, to trans women, to women of color,” she said.
This point stuck with Holbrook.
“The representation of minorities and those who are discriminated against needs to include all subgroups, not just those who are prominent,” she said.
@maddycakes
ml540312@ohio.edu
