CeCe McDonald and Laverne Cox
By Jos Truitt • @jostruitt • 10 years ago

Photo of the day: CeCe McDonald released from prison

CeCe McDonald and Laverne Cox

via @prisonculture

CeCe McDonald was released from prison today, almost a year before originally expected. CeCe was arrested and faced an unfair trial for defending herself and her friends from a racist and transmisogynist attack. That’s CeCe in the photo above — and yes, that’s Orange is the New Black star and all around badass Laverne Cox sitting next to her. Laverne Cox is making a documentary about Cece’s case — you can support the film here.

Check out Janet Mock’s beautiful open letter to CeCe McDonald upon her release, and the hashtag #BecauseofCeCe discussing learning, growth, and change that’s happened because of this inspiring activist who never stopped fighting for her community, even behind bars.

Video of CeCe’s release after the jump:

Jos Truitt Jos Truitt is inspired, humbled, and just plain in awe of the incredible activism and sisterhood of Cece, Laverne, Janet, and many other trans women of color who are speaking their truth and demanding a better world.

Boston, MA

Jos Truitt is Executive Director of Development at Feministing. She joined the team in July 2009, became an Editor in August 2011, and Executive Director in September 2013. She writes about a range of topics including transgender issues, abortion access, and media representation. Jos first got involved with organizing when she led a walk out against the Iraq war at her high school, the Boston Arts Academy. She was introduced to the reproductive justice movement while at Hampshire College, where she organized the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program’s annual reproductive justice conference. She has worked on the National Abortion Federation’s hotline, was a Field Organizer at Choice USA, and has volunteered as a Pro-Choice Clinic Escort. Jos has written for publications including The Guardian, Bilerico, RH Reality Check, Metro Weekly, and the Columbia Journalism Review. She has spoken and trained at numerous national conferences and college campuses about trans issues, reproductive justice, blogging, feminism, and grassroots organizing. Jos completed her MFA in Printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute in Spring 2013. In her "spare time" she likes to bake and work on projects about mermaids.

Jos Truitt is an Executive Director of Feministing in charge of Development.

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