Update from CeCe in St. Cloud: July, 2012Posted by Support CeCe!
August 2, 2012
http://supportcece.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/update-from-cece-in-st-cloud-july-2012/The call-in campaign for CeCe to get her correct dosage of hormones was an incredible success! The prison's health administration were so "inconvenienced", they were compelled to clear the issue immediately. CeCe is doing fine and looking fabulous. She is steadily devouring the books that everyone is sending – currently she is reading Angela Davis and is totally inspired.
She spoke a bit about the push from some supporters to launch large-scale campaigns to get Gov. Mark Dayton to pardon her, and/or to have her moved to a women's facility. She talked about how these campaigns would not only not benefit her, but how they exceptionalize her in a way that she doesn't want.
The pardoning process would not only be painful for her, but were she even to get considered, it wouldn't be until after she served her sentence. She thinks about people incarcerated for much longer terms than she, and for incredibly minor offenses (mostly drug related). Even if the emotional hardship of the process was something she felt up for, and even if the slim chance of it working actually succeeded, the outcome of her getting a pardon while others sat in prison is antithetical to her values and the whole reason she is struggling against this racist system in the first place.
Letter from CeCe McDonald to her supporters:
May 11, 2012: "Go beyond our natural selves"
posted by Support CeCe!
August 2, 2012
http://supportcece.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/may-11-2012-go-beyond-our-natural-selves/This post was originally written to a gathering of CeCe McDonald's family, friends, and supporters, which she organized from within the Hennepin County jail. She wrote this letter the week after she accepted a plea agreement to a reduced charge of second degree manslaughter.May 11, 2012
"Hi everyone! Before I start, I just want to thank all of you...I love you all and I thank you from the bottom of my bottomless heart with truth and sincerity.
"I realized that my true nature is to take responsibility for my part in the incident.... I realized trying to deny or escape it wouldn't make it go away, as I have done with most things in my life. Once I was able to understand, acknowledge, and accept things as they were, I was able to grow from it and even attain the compassion and empathy for those who have wronged me in this situation, as well as those that have troubled me all my life. I know that this incident will always be a part of my life, but I made the decision to not let in continue to be a burden in my life, and no matter what path I may take after this I will not go into whatever may come with extra baggage or any regrets."
- CeCe McDonald
