U.S (Color Of Change) : Demand D.A Alvin BRAGG DROPS ALL CHARGES AGAINST Tracy Mc CARTER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear friend,

 

 

 

Yet another Black survivor of domestic violence is being criminalized for saving her own life, adding to this country's shameful legacy of anti-Black misogyny.¹  

 

Tracy McCarter is a Black mother, grandmother, and trained nurse from New York who is facing criminal prosecution for the death of her estranged husband, James Murray.²

 

In the summer of 2019, Tracy separated from Murray, who is white, after he repeatedly struck, kicked, and choked her. During their separation his drinking worsened and his violence escalated.³ In March 2020, Murray was drunk and assaulted Tracy, which resulted in his death.⁴ 

 

Despite evidence of Tracy calling the police and providing medical assistance until the paramedics arrived, she was wrongfully arrested for murder.⁵ The 46-year old nurse was jailed on Rikers Island for seven months without an option for release during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.⁶ 

 

Newly elected Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, a former civil rights attorney, campaigned on the need to balance public safety and fairness. Bragg even publicly declared his support stating during his election campaign, “I #StandWithTracy. Prosecuting a domestic violence survivor who acted in self-defense is unjust." Nevertheless, DA Bragg has remained silent on the case in the months since taking office.⁷ 

 

District Attorney Bragg has the power to end the cycle of criminalizing survivors of domestic violence in Manhattan and ensure Tracy is free from the threat of incarceration. That’s why we’re asking you, friend, to sign our petition, and help amplify our demand for District Attorney Bragg to truly #StandWithTracy by dropping all charges against her immediately.  

 

 

 

 

 

SIGN THE PETITION TO #STANDWITHTRACY

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy is being prosecuted by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Sara Sullivan, a white woman, who will stop at nothing to paint Tracy's act as premeditated.⁸ In three separate search warrants ADA Sullivan misrepresented Tracy’s statements about the dispute and withheld key evidence about the attack when the case was presented before a grand jury.⁹ We need District Attorney Bragg to follow through in his commitments to end overzealous prosecutions and end this ordeal for Tracy. 

 

According to Leigh Goodmark, the Director of the University of Maryland’s Gender Violence Clinic, “Black women are disproportionately represented among victims of violence who are arrested, because the system is only responsive to the perfect victim.” ¹⁰ —someone who is white, cisgender, and middleclass. And in New York, 90% of incarcerated women have been subjected to domestic violence— a pattern of power and control that limits survivors’ choices.¹¹ 

 

But this is not a coincidence. The criminal legal system works this way by design to criminalize Black girls and women for using their agency to fight back and even survive. 

 

 

 

 

 

DEMAND DA ALVING BRAGG DROPS ALL CHARGES AGAINST TRACY MCCARTER

 

 

 

 

 

In September 2020, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office finally consented to her release on GPS monitoring by way of an electronic shackle.¹² However, e-incarceration has made it impossible for Tracy to continue working as a healthcare professional, complete her advanced degree at Columbia University, seek the treatment she needs to begin her healing journey, or visit her family, including her first grandchild who was born while Tracy was incarcerated. 

 

Friend, no one should be forced to bear the pain and trauma of being dragged through the criminal legal system simply for surviving.

 

It’s time DA Bragg prioritizes the lives of survivors of domestic violence and drops all charges against Tracy McCarter. Can we count on you to sign the petition?

 

Until justice is real, 

 

 

 

 

The Criminal Justice and Democracy Team at Color Of Change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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References : 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. "Black women punished for self-defense must be freed from their cages." The Guardian. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/144424?t=8&akid=53267%2E1942551%2Eg2BpJq
2. "Attorneys Raise Body Camera Evidence Questions In Manhattan "Self-Defense"m Murder Case." Gothamist. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/352859?t=10&akid=53267%2E1942551%2Eg2BpJq
3. Prosecutors ignored evidence of her estranged husband's abuse. she faces 25 years in prison for murder. The Intercept. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/352860?t=12&akid=53267%2E1942551%2Eg2BpJq
4. Ibid. 
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid. 
7. "Pressure mounts for Manhattan district attorney to drop charges of criminalized survivor Tracy McCarter" Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/352861?t=14&akid=53267%2E1942551%2Eg2BpJq
8. Prosecutors ignored evidence of her estranged husband's abuse. she faces 25 years in prison for murder. The Intercept. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/352860?t=16&akid=53267%2E1942551%2Eg2BpJq
9. Ibid.
10. "DA Alvin Bragg Still Won't Drop Charges Against Manhattan Woman Charged with Murder Who Says She Acted in Self-Defense." The City. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/352862?t=18&akid=53267%2E1942551%2Eg2BpJq

  

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ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.