Culture of Resistance

littlemissmutant:

foxski:

“The Human Rights Campaign asked us to take down our trans* flag because ‘marriage equality is not a transgender issue.’

They said this to one of our activists as well as a transgender person who held the flag. We stood our ground, and flew our flag proudly.

That flag flew behind the podium ALL day today, keep an eye for it on the news.”

This apparently happened twice. Well done, HRC. Well done. But I’m not allowed to be critical of your campaign. Get the fuck out of here.

oh my god

fuck that noise so hard

(via mattachinereview)

leslie-feinberg:

October 7, 2012

In this message, I report my trial date and the details of the plea deal that the Minneapolis City Attorney’s office has put on the table. 

At my pre-trial hearing, on Sept. 28, 2012, the date of the opening of my jury trial on a charge of 3rd-degree misdemeanor was set for Dec. 12, 2012.

That is not a speedy jury trial! I am ready to stand trial today. But the court has declined to schedule my trial in October—LGBTQ/+ History Month—or in November—the month of Trans Remembrance events in the U.S.

The scheduling of my trial for mid-December serves to bury publicity about the prosecution of an act of solidarity with CeCe McDonald.

In the U.S., the last two weeks of December is a time when students, teachers and school staffs are busily working and then schools close down for winter breaks. Workplaces and government offices shut down for winter holidays and new year on the Gregorian calendar. Many people travel and communications via work and social media often slow down

A NEW YEAR OF STRUGGLE
ON ACTIVIST CALENDAR

I am pressing to re-schedule my trial date for mid-January—to begin a new year of struggle on the activist calendar.

A recent show of force at St. Cloud prison on Sept. 15, 2012, also dramatically demonstrated that the 1%, and the criminally unjust system that maintains its rule, wants to thwart the growing support that CeCe McDonald’s struggle is inspiring.

Supporters rode together in a group motorcycle ride from Minneapolis to St. Cloud to visit CeCe McDonald that day. When they arrived, St. Cloud officials had locked down all the prisoners, SWAT teams were posted at every entrance, and all those who traveled to visit their loves ones were barred from spending precious time together. 

PROSECUTION ‘DEAL’: 
‘PLEAD GUILTY, JAIL TIME GOES AWAY’

I thank Bruce Nestor, and the National Lawyer’s Guild, for your legal support.

The Minneapolis City Attorney has put a plea bargain on the pre-trial negotiating table. Here are the details, as I understand them:

If I would plead “guilty” my sentence will be “stayed—no jail time beyond the three days I already spent in lock up; one year probation; 3-5 days of community service; pay financial “restitution” for property “damage.”

After my arrest, I was held without bail for three days on a felony charge, which threatened five years behind bars. After mass outcry, the felony charge was dropped.

Now I’m being threatened with one year in jail.

But the prosecution is willing to make more time in jail go away if I’ll just “confess” my “guilt.”

My message to the prosecution is: No deal! 

I DECLARE: ‘NOT GUILTY!’

I want a speedy jury trial in which I can declare—not “plead”—that I am NOT GUILTY of any wrong-doing.

The action in which I delivered the peoples’ verdict—writing “Free CeCe Now!” on the county jail wall that held her—that was my “community service.” I was demonstrating my responsibility to CeCe and to many communities to take action against injustice. 

One things is clear: the repressive forces have the strength to hold me incommunicado behind bars, but they don’t have the power to stop the support for CeCe McDonald from widening and deepening.

DELAYED TRIAL: MORE TIME 
TO ORGANIZE SOLIDARITY

As I write, transwomen of color are being lynched in cities across the U.S., and tortured in the Prison-Industrial Complex. 

CeCe McDonald is surviving this war.

In honor of her ongoing struggle, I’m making an open call for photographs for a slide show dedicated to “Free CeCe” in the no-cost author edition of Stone Butch Blues. 

The slide show is titled “This is what solidarity looks like.”

Please consider making “Free CeCe” group photographs at October LGBTQ/+ and November Trans Remembrance events with a sign or other message of support for CeCe McDonald.

Watch for:
Every day between now and the opening of my trial I will:
    —try to post at least a photo a day from the “Free CeCe” slide show on social media, to build solidarity with CeCe’s struggle and to thank the photographers for their permissions. 
    —also post photos in search of the photographer/s in order to give full photo credit.

Download permission forms:
iacenter.org/lgbt/cecemcdonaldpictures 

Send:
photos/permissions to transgenderwarrior@gmail.com or via social media

I’ll write more, when I can.

FREE CECE NOW!

(via fuckyeahmarxismleninism)

via @petrakramer

Why This Is Important

An icon in the metal and hardcore scenes, Mina (nee Keith) Caputo fronted the legendary Life Of Agony. From the modern classic River Runs Red through the 2005 reunion record Broken Valley, the band left a lasting impression and has influenced more bands than we can even imagine.

After performing for more than twenty years as a man, Caputo came out as transsexual, and announced a transition from male to female. She also and began referring to herself with female pronouns. Immediately following, there were mixed feelings from both fans and friends alike, but nonetheless an overwhelming amount of support.

We, the undersigned, feel that one way the metal scene can further show its support for Caputo is to have her featured in Revolver Magazine’s Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock. While the feature been subject to criticism as promoting sexism and exploitation of women, Revolver’s editor-in-chief Brandon Geist and other defenders have countered that the feature is meant to empower and celebrate women. Including Caputo here would make a significant step towards mending that rift by recognizing that a transgendered musician in this scene is worthy of such celebration and empowerment.

Petition at change.org